ELE 3915 Excel Programming and Automation

ELE 3915 Excel Programming and Automation

Course code: 
ELE 3915
Department: 
Data Science and Analytics
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Adam Lee
Course name in Norwegian: 
Excel Programming and Automation
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Programme Electives
Semester: 
2025 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Using available data to gain insights and make correct decisions is becoming essential for almost any business in today's world. Spreadsheets are one of the most used tools for processing tabular data and gaining insights. In this course, we will focus on advanced use of Excel, including programming and automation.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  • Understand, explain and use advanced spreadsheet concepts, including:
    • the user interface
    • user-defined functions
    • programmatic cell and sheet manipulation
    • Excel objects
  • Understand and explain general programming concepts:
    • syntax
    • variables
    • data types and structures
    • control flow
    • functions
    • object oriented programming
    • functional programming

  All with a focus on data processing in Excel.

Learning outcomes - Skills

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

  • design, implement, run, test and debug code in Excel based on a given textual description of a problem
  • process, analyze, summarize and visualize datasets using Excel
  • read, write and understand user-defined functions and Excel scripts
  • automate workflows in Excel
General Competence

By the end of the course, the student will have stronger competence in:

  • processing and analyzing data with help of computers
  • using online resources as aids to solve problems
  • reading and understanding technical documentation
  • working in groups
Course content
  • Introduction to Excel
    •  user defined functions in the workbook
    •  PivotTables & Charting
  • typescript:
    • variables, data types and structures
    • control flow (conditional execution, loops)
    • functions
    • object - oriented programming
    • organising code
  • ExcelScript:
    • recording and executing Excel scripts
    • excel objects & the ExcelScript API
Teaching and learning activities

Organized classes combining classical lectures with discussing and solving practical problems. (Students are expected to prepare for these sessions by going through selected material.)
Homework exercises (ungraded, solved individually or in groups of 2-3 students).
Synchronous learning activities (i.e. lectures) will comprise 28 hours
Asynchronous learning activities (i.e. homework exercises) will comprise 14 hours
There will additionally be 28 hours of labs where students will solve practical problems under supervision
The course requires access to Excel on the Web and Typescript (which is freely available)

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Disclaimer

Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.

Required prerequisite knowledge

No particular prerequisites are required.

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Submission other than PDF
Exam/hand-in semester: 
First Semester
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Group/Individual (1 - 3)
Duration: 
1 Week(s)
Comment: 
Group work implementing a specific problem to be solved in Excel using programming and automation.
Exam code: 
ELE 39151
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination every semester
Type of Assessment: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
28 Hour(s)
Lectures
Feedback activities and counselling
28 Hour(s)
Exercises sessions (labs):
Student's own work with learning resources
52 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
52 Hour(s)
Examination
40 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.