Syllabus

MBA708 A Comprehensive Excel Masterclass – Unleashing Business Potential

Instructor
Liz Durango-Cohen, M. Zia Hassan Endowed Chair and Associate Professor of Operations Management
Stuart School of Business, Illinois Institute of Technology
Elizabeth J. Durango-Cohen | Illinois Institute of Technology (iit.edu)

Course Description
The Comprehensive Excel Masterclass is an advanced course designed to empower students with the skills
and knowledge needed to maximize the potential of Microsoft Excel in a business environment. This course
goes beyond the basics and explores advanced functions, and features that will enable students to perform
complex calculations, retrieve and manipulate data from multiple sources, and gain valuable insights from
data. The course combines theoretical concepts with practical exercises and examples to reinforce learning.

“A crucial aspect of business decision-making involves understanding the time value of money. In this course,
students will be exposed to time value of money principles and learn how to utilize Excel's financial functions
to analyze loans, create amortization schedules, and evaluate project valuations. By leveraging functions
such as PV, FV, NPV, PMT, IRR and more, students will be able to make informed financial decisions.

A significant portion of the course is dedicated to creating Excel dashboards, which are effective tools for
visually presenting performance data (such as KPIs). Participants will learn how to leverage Pivot Tables to
create dynamic and interactive dashboards utilizing slicers, timelines, and calculated fields to enhance data
exploration and create compelling dashboards.

To keep students up-to-date with the latest developments, the course also highlights new functionalities in
Office 365 and Google Sheets. Students will discover the enhanced features and capabilities offered by these
platforms, enabling them to leverage the latest tools for increased productivity and efficiency.

Note: This course assumes a basic understanding of Excel functionalities such as creating formulas, working
with worksheets, and basic data manipulation.

Software Requirements
Microsoft Excel

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Utilize complex Excel functions and techniques to extract and manipulate data.
• Evaluate the financial viability of loans using Excel's financial functions.
• Apply the principles of Capital Budgeting for project selection and investment decisions.
• Create advanced Pivot Tables and Pivot Charts for data analysis and visualization.
• Develop interactive dashboards with Form Controls to enhance user experience.
• Design custom charts for effective data visualization.
• Apply Excel's latest features and updates in Office 365/Google Sheets for increased productivity.
• Showcase key performance indicators (KPIs) to support data-driven decision-making in business
intelligence.

Course Materials
The link to reading materials and resources to learn on the topics can be found in each week’s learning
module. All materials are available online for free, no required resources need to be purchased. There is no
required textbook to supplement the course materials. Note: Be aware that some resources may open in a
new tab.

Course Outline
The course consists of 3 modules that focus on the following key areas:

Module 1: Financial Analysis in Excel

Key concepts

Lesson 1: Introduction to Time Value of Money and Excel's Financial Functions

Lesson 2: Mastering Loans

Lesson 3: Project Evaluation and Selection

Readings

- Lecture Materials – Module 1

Module 2: Transforming Raw Data into Meaningful Insights

Key concepts

Lesson 1: Analyzing and Extracting Information in Excel

Lesson 2: Advanced Pivot Tables Functionality

Lesson 3: Latest Function and Updates in Office 365/Google Sheets

Readings

- Lecture Materials – Module 2

Module 3: Mastering Excel Dashboard Creation: From Design to Interactivity

Key concepts

Lesson 1: Excel Dashboards Foundation

Lesson 2: Dashboard Function Toolbox

Lesson 3: Putting it All Together – Building a KPI Dashboard

Readings

- Lecture Materials – Module 3

Course Structure and Learning Activities

There are 3 content modules in this course and each module may take about 20-25 hours to complete. You
can advance at yourown pace; a consistent pace will help you complete the module and move on to the next
course in the sequence. The final module consists of your final exam for the course.

This course is comprised of the following elements:

● Readings: Each module may include several required and/or supplemental readings. The
supplementary materials are provided for you to help you to further explore the course topics.

● Video Lessons: In each module, the concepts you need to know will be presented through a
collection of short videos. You may stream these videos for playback within the browser by clicking on
their titles. You will be provided a workbook that corresponds to the video lessons for you to practice
as you follow along.

● Discussion Forum: This course has a place for you to interact with other learners about class-related
topics. Unless specified, discussion forums do not carry a score.

● Practice Activities: Each module will include some practice activities, intended for you to apply the
knowledge presented in the video lessons to demonstrate your understanding of the topics. You will
be provided with a spreadsheet to utilize while completing the activities. Upon submission, you will be
provided with solutions in order to gauge your successful completion of the activities. These activities
do not contribute toward your final score in the class.

● Practice Quizzes: Each module will include some practice quizzes, intended for you to assess your
understanding of the topics. You will be allowed unlimited attempts at each practice quiz. There is no
time limit on how long you take to complete each attempt at the quiz. These quizzes do not contribute
toward your final score in the class.

● Summative Module Assessments: Each module will include at least one summative module
assessment. You will be allowed one attempt per eight hours for each assessment. There is no time
limit on how long you take to complete each attempt at the assessment. Your highest grade will be
recorded

● Final Assessment: This course will contain one final summative course assessment. Before
taking the exam, please make sure you are in a place with reliable internet connection.

How to Pass This Course

Guidelines for completing and submitting each assigned course activity is posted along with the assignment.
Assignments can be submitted at any time as you move through the module. Only those who complete and
submit all assignments will receive a certificate of completion of this course. No late assignments will be
accepted. In case of extenuating circumstances beyond your control that prevent the submission of an
assignment or exam, you have to enter a request with the program advisor and the instructor.

To qualify for a Course Certificate, simply start verifying your coursework at the beginning of the course and
pay the fee. Coursera Financial Aid is available to offset the registration cost for learners with demonstrated
economic needs. If you have questions about Course Certificates, please see the help topics here.
If you choose not to pay the fee, you can still audit the course. You will still be able to view all videos, submit
practice quizzes, and view required assessments. Auditing does not include the option to submit required
assessments. As such, you will not be able to earn a grade or a Course Certificate.

The following table explains the breakdown for what is required in order to pass the class and qualify for a
Course Certificate. You must pass each and every required activity in order to pass this course.

Activity Required? Number per Estimated Time % Required % of Total

Course per Module to Pass Grade

Lecture Videos Yes 3-6 per .5-1 hour N/A N/A

module

Practice Quizzes No 4-7 per .5 hour N/A N/A

module

Discussions No 2 per course 1 hour N/A N/A

Summative Module Yes 1 per module .5 hour 80% 20%/each

Assessments module
(60%)
Final Formative Yes 1 per course 1-3 hours 80% 40%
Assessment

Getting and Giving Help

● Use the Learner Help Center to find information regarding specific technical problems. For example,
technical problems would include error messages, difficulty submitting assignments, or problems with
video playback. If you cannot find an answer in the documentation, you can also report your problem
to the Coursera staff by clicking on the Contact Us! link available on each topic's page within the
Learner Help Center.
● Use the flag icon under each item to report errors in lecture video content, assignment questions and
answers, assignment grading, text and links on course pages, or the content of other course materials.
● Familiarize yourself with Coursera’s policy on Accessibility.

Academic Integrity
Your attentiveness to academic integrity reflects the value you place on your own work and the work of
others. In addition to Coursera's Honor Code, we also have high expectations for conduct during course
participation.

Discussion Forums: Expectations

Sharing an online course with other avid learners like you gives you a unique opportunity to share,
collaborate, and learn from others and their experiences, and helps you reinforce your understanding of the
topics of the course. Interacting in the Discussion Forums is a great way to engage with your online
community. We know that it is not possible to read every discussion forum post, so we recommend that you
read those that interest you; and reply when you can contribute. The forum is part of your class activities and
everybody is expected to act professionally and be civil and respectful of others in your class. Failure to meet
these expectations may be considered a break in the Academic Code of Conduct and may result in your
removal from the course. Please, check tips and helpful tools to interact in discussion forums in this
document.

Academic Code of Conduct

Above all else, learners are expected to ensure that their conduct helps to create an atmosphere conducive to
learning and the interchange of knowledge. While it is understood that some of these items are subject to
interpretation, learners should nonetheless endeavor to:

● Be respectful of fellow learners.

● Not discriminate against fellow learners in any manner.
● Conduct peer reviews in a timely manner and give useful feedback on what was done well, helpful
suggestions for how to improve, and specific comments about why you gave the grade you chose to
assist peers in their learning.
● Turn assignments in on time and follow instructions on all assignments including those affecting the
use of technology.
● Be truthful in all communication, which includes, but is not limited to, avoiding academic dishonesty.
Illinois Institute of Technology Copyright Statement
This course material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved by IIT. No part of this course material may be
reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language or computer
language, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, manual, or
otherwise, without the express prior written permission of the University.