diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..263b2b7830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+""" Course API """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e00766fce4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+"""
+Course API Blocks
+"""
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..716951039a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+"""
+API function for retrieving course blocks data
+"""
+
+from .transformers.blocks_api import BlocksAPITransformer
+from .transformers.proctored_exam import ProctoredExamTransformer
+from .serializers import BlockSerializer, BlockDictSerializer
+from lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.api import get_course_blocks, COURSE_BLOCK_ACCESS_TRANSFORMERS
+
+
+def get_blocks(
+        request,
+        usage_key,
+        user=None,
+        depth=None,
+        nav_depth=None,
+        requested_fields=None,
+        block_counts=None,
+        student_view_data=None,
+        return_type='dict'
+):
+    """
+    Return a serialized representation of the course blocks
+    """
+    # TODO support user=None by returning all blocks, not just user-specific ones
+    if user is None:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+    # transform blocks
+    blocks_api_transformer = BlocksAPITransformer(
+        block_counts,
+        student_view_data,
+        depth,
+        nav_depth
+    )
+    blocks = get_course_blocks(
+        user,
+        usage_key,
+        transformers=COURSE_BLOCK_ACCESS_TRANSFORMERS + [ProctoredExamTransformer(), blocks_api_transformer],
+    )
+
+    # serialize
+    serializer_context = {
+        'request': request,
+        'block_structure': blocks,
+        'requested_fields': requested_fields or [],
+    }
+
+    if return_type == 'dict':
+        serializer = BlockDictSerializer(blocks, context=serializer_context, many=False)
+    else:
+        serializer = BlockSerializer(blocks, context=serializer_context, many=True)
+
+    # return serialized data
+    return serializer.data
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/forms.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/forms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ca258b38eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/forms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+"""
+Course API Forms
+"""
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.forms import Form, CharField, ChoiceField, IntegerField
+from django.http import Http404
+from rest_framework.exceptions import PermissionDenied
+
+from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import UsageKey
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.util.forms import MultiValueField
+from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+
+from .permissions import can_access_other_users_blocks, can_access_users_blocks
+
+
+class BlockListGetForm(Form):
+    """
+    A form to validate query parameters in the block list retrieval endpoint
+    """
+    username = CharField(required=True)  # TODO return all blocks if user is not specified by requesting staff user
+    usage_key = CharField(required=True)
+    requested_fields = MultiValueField(required=False)
+    student_view_data = MultiValueField(required=False)
+    block_counts = MultiValueField(required=False)
+    depth = CharField(required=False)
+    nav_depth = IntegerField(required=False, min_value=0)
+    return_type = ChoiceField(
+        required=False,
+        choices=[(choice, choice) for choice in ['dict', 'list']],
+    )
+
+    def clean_requested_fields(self):
+        """
+        Return a set of `requested_fields`, merged with defaults of `type`
+        and `display_name`
+        """
+        requested_fields = self.cleaned_data['requested_fields']
+
+        # add default requested_fields
+        return (requested_fields or set()) | {'type', 'display_name'}
+
+    def clean_depth(self):
+        """
+        Get the appropriate depth.  No provided value will be treated as a
+        depth of 0, while a value of "all" will be treated as unlimited depth.
+        """
+        value = self.cleaned_data['depth']
+        if not value:
+            return 0
+        elif value == "all":
+            return None
+        try:
+            return int(value)
+        except ValueError:
+            raise ValidationError("'{}' is not a valid depth value.".format(value))
+
+    def clean_usage_key(self):
+        """
+        Ensure a valid `usage_key` was provided.
+        """
+        usage_key = self.cleaned_data['usage_key']
+
+        try:
+            usage_key = UsageKey.from_string(usage_key)
+            usage_key = usage_key.replace(course_key=modulestore().fill_in_run(usage_key.course_key))
+        except InvalidKeyError:
+            raise ValidationError("'{}' is not a valid usage key.".format(unicode(usage_key)))
+
+        return usage_key
+
+    def clean_return_type(self):
+        """
+        Return valid 'return_type' or default value of 'dict'
+        """
+        return self.cleaned_data['return_type'] or 'dict'
+
+    def clean_requested_user(self, cleaned_data, course_key):
+        """
+        Validates and returns the requested_user, while checking permissions.
+        """
+        requested_username = cleaned_data.get('username', '')
+        requesting_user = self.initial['requesting_user']
+
+        if requesting_user.username.lower() == requested_username.lower():
+            requested_user = requesting_user
+        else:
+            # the requesting user is trying to access another user's view
+            # verify requesting user can access another user's blocks
+            if not can_access_other_users_blocks(requesting_user, course_key):
+                raise PermissionDenied(
+                    "'{requesting_username}' does not have permission to access view for '{requested_username}'."
+                    .format(requesting_username=requesting_user.username, requested_username=requested_username)
+                )
+
+            # update requested user object
+            try:
+                requested_user = User.objects.get(username=requested_username)
+            except User.DoesNotExist:
+                raise Http404("Requested user '{username}' does not exist.".format(username=requested_username))
+
+        # verify whether the requested user's blocks can be accessed
+        if not can_access_users_blocks(requested_user, course_key):
+            raise PermissionDenied(
+                "Course blocks for '{requested_username}' cannot be accessed."
+                .format(requested_username=requested_username)
+            )
+
+        return requested_user
+
+    def clean(self):
+        """
+        Return cleanded data, including additional requested fields.
+        """
+        cleaned_data = super(BlockListGetForm, self).clean()
+
+        # add additional requested_fields that are specified as separate parameters, if they were requested
+        additional_requested_fields = [
+            'student_view_data',
+            'block_counts',
+            'nav_depth',
+        ]
+        for additional_field in additional_requested_fields:
+            field_value = cleaned_data.get(additional_field)
+            if field_value or field_value == 0:  # allow 0 as a requested value
+                cleaned_data['requested_fields'].add(additional_field)
+
+        usage_key = cleaned_data.get('usage_key')
+        if not usage_key:
+            return
+
+        cleaned_data['user'] = self.clean_requested_user(cleaned_data, usage_key.course_key)
+        return cleaned_data
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/permissions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..11fc442e4d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/permissions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""
+Encapsulates permissions checks for Course Blocks API
+"""
+
+from courseware.access import has_access
+from student.models import CourseEnrollment
+
+
+def can_access_other_users_blocks(requesting_user, course_key):
+    """
+    Returns whether the requesting_user can access the blocks for
+    other users in the given course.
+    """
+    return has_access(requesting_user, 'staff', course_key)
+
+
+def can_access_users_blocks(requested_user, course_key):
+    """
+    Returns whether blocks for the requested_user is accessible.
+    """
+    return (
+        (requested_user.id and CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled(requested_user, course_key)) or
+        has_access(requested_user, 'staff', course_key)
+    )
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0682f3041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/serializers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+"""
+Serializers for Course Blocks related return objects.
+"""
+from rest_framework import serializers
+from rest_framework.reverse import reverse
+
+from .transformers import SUPPORTED_FIELDS
+
+
+class BlockSerializer(serializers.Serializer):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """
+    Serializer for single course block
+    """
+    def _get_field(self, block_key, transformer, field_name, default):
+        """
+        Get the field value requested.  The field may be an XBlock field, a
+        transformer block field, or an entire tranformer block data dict.
+        """
+        if transformer is None:
+            value = self.context['block_structure'].get_xblock_field(block_key, field_name)
+        elif field_name is None:
+            value = self.context['block_structure'].get_transformer_block_data(block_key, transformer)
+        else:
+            value = self.context['block_structure'].get_transformer_block_field(block_key, transformer, field_name)
+
+        return value if (value is not None) else default
+
+    def to_representation(self, block_key):
+        """
+        Return a serializable representation of the requested block
+        """
+        # create response data dict for basic fields
+        data = {
+            'id': unicode(block_key),
+            'lms_web_url': reverse(
+                'jump_to',
+                kwargs={'course_id': unicode(block_key.course_key), 'location': unicode(block_key)},
+                request=self.context['request'],
+            ),
+            'student_view_url': reverse(
+                'courseware.views.render_xblock',
+                kwargs={'usage_key_string': unicode(block_key)},
+                request=self.context['request'],
+            ),
+        }
+
+        # add additional requested fields that are supported by the various transformers
+        for supported_field in SUPPORTED_FIELDS:
+            if supported_field.requested_field_name in self.context['requested_fields']:
+                field_value = self._get_field(
+                    block_key,
+                    supported_field.transformer,
+                    supported_field.block_field_name,
+                    supported_field.default_value,
+                )
+                if field_value is not None:
+                    # only return fields that have data
+                    data[supported_field.serializer_field_name] = field_value
+
+        if 'children' in self.context['requested_fields']:
+            children = self.context['block_structure'].get_children(block_key)
+            if children:
+                data['children'] = [unicode(child) for child in children]
+
+        return data
+
+
+class BlockDictSerializer(serializers.Serializer):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """
+    Serializer that formats a BlockStructure object to a dictionary, rather
+    than a list, of blocks
+    """
+    root = serializers.CharField(source='root_block_usage_key')
+    blocks = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+
+    def get_blocks(self, structure):
+        """
+        Serialize to a dictionary of blocks keyed by the block's usage_key.
+        """
+        return {
+            unicode(block_key): BlockSerializer(block_key, context=self.context).data
+            for block_key in structure
+        }
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c6828b8804
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""
+Tests for Blocks api.py
+"""
+
+from django.test.client import RequestFactory
+from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import SampleCourseFactory
+
+from ..api import get_blocks
+
+
+class TestGetBlocks(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Tests for the get_blocks function
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestGetBlocks, self).setUp()
+        self.course = SampleCourseFactory.create()
+        self.user = UserFactory.create()
+        self.request = RequestFactory().get("/dummy")
+        self.request.user = self.user
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        blocks = get_blocks(self.request, self.course.location, self.user)
+        self.assertEquals(blocks['root'], unicode(self.course.location))
+        # add 1 for the orphaned course about block
+        self.assertEquals(len(blocks['blocks']) + 1, len(self.store.get_items(self.course.id)))
+
+    def test_no_user(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(NotImplementedError):
+            get_blocks(self.request, self.course.location)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_forms.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_forms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..822130535a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_forms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,212 @@
+"""
+Tests for Course Blocks forms
+"""
+import ddt
+from django.http import Http404, QueryDict
+from urllib import urlencode
+from rest_framework.exceptions import PermissionDenied
+
+from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.util.test_forms import FormTestMixin
+from student.models import CourseEnrollment
+from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseEnrollmentFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
+
+from ..forms import BlockListGetForm
+
+
+@ddt.ddt
+class TestBlockListGetForm(FormTestMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Tests for BlockListGetForm
+    """
+    FORM_CLASS = BlockListGetForm
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestBlockListGetForm, cls).setUpClass()
+
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestBlockListGetForm, self).setUp()
+
+        self.student = UserFactory.create()
+        self.student2 = UserFactory.create()
+        self.staff = UserFactory.create(is_staff=True)
+
+        CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=self.student, course_id=self.course.id)
+        CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=self.student2, course_id=self.course.id)
+
+        usage_key = self.course.location
+        self.initial = {'requesting_user': self.student}
+        self.form_data = QueryDict(
+            urlencode({
+                'username': self.student.username,
+                'usage_key': unicode(usage_key),
+            }),
+            mutable=True,
+        )
+        self.cleaned_data = {
+            'block_counts': set(),
+            'depth': 0,
+            'nav_depth': None,
+            'return_type': 'dict',
+            'requested_fields': {'display_name', 'type'},
+            'student_view_data': set(),
+            'usage_key': usage_key,
+            'username': self.student.username,
+            'user': self.student,
+        }
+
+    def assert_raises_permission_denied(self):
+        """
+        Fail unless permission is denied to the form
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
+            self.get_form(expected_valid=False)
+
+    def assert_raises_not_found(self):
+        """
+        Fail unless a 404 occurs
+        """
+        with self.assertRaises(Http404):
+            self.get_form(expected_valid=False)
+
+    def assert_equals_cleaned_data(self):
+        """
+        Check that the form returns the expected data
+        """
+        form = self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
+        self.assertDictEqual(form.cleaned_data, self.cleaned_data)
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    #-- usage key
+
+    def test_no_usage_key_param(self):
+        self.form_data.pop('usage_key')
+        self.assert_error('usage_key', "This field is required.")
+
+    def test_invalid_usage_key(self):
+        self.form_data['usage_key'] = 'invalid_usage_key'
+        self.assert_error('usage_key', "'invalid_usage_key' is not a valid usage key.")
+
+    def test_non_existent_usage_key(self):
+        self.form_data['usage_key'] = self.store.make_course_usage_key(CourseLocator('non', 'existent', 'course'))
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    #-- user
+
+    def test_no_user_param(self):
+        self.form_data.pop('username')
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    def test_nonexistent_user_by_student(self):
+        self.form_data['username'] = 'non_existent_user'
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    def test_nonexistent_user_by_staff(self):
+        self.initial = {'requesting_user': self.staff}
+        self.form_data['username'] = 'non_existent_user'
+        self.assert_raises_not_found()
+
+    def test_other_user_by_student(self):
+        self.form_data['username'] = self.student2.username
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    def test_other_user_by_staff(self):
+        self.initial = {'requesting_user': self.staff}
+        self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
+
+    def test_unenrolled_student(self):
+        CourseEnrollment.unenroll(self.student, self.course.id)
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    def test_unenrolled_staff(self):
+        CourseEnrollment.unenroll(self.staff, self.course.id)
+        self.initial = {'requesting_user': self.staff}
+        self.form_data['username'] = self.staff.username
+        self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
+
+    def test_unenrolled_student_by_staff(self):
+        CourseEnrollment.unenroll(self.student, self.course.id)
+        self.initial = {'requesting_user': self.staff}
+        self.assert_raises_permission_denied()
+
+    #-- depth
+
+    def test_depth_integer(self):
+        self.form_data['depth'] = 3
+        self.cleaned_data['depth'] = 3
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    def test_depth_all(self):
+        self.form_data['depth'] = 'all'
+        self.cleaned_data['depth'] = None
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    def test_depth_invalid(self):
+        self.form_data['depth'] = 'not_an_integer'
+        self.assert_error('depth', "'not_an_integer' is not a valid depth value.")
+
+    #-- nav depth
+
+    def test_nav_depth(self):
+        self.form_data['nav_depth'] = 3
+        self.cleaned_data['nav_depth'] = 3
+        self.cleaned_data['requested_fields'] |= {'nav_depth'}
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    def test_nav_depth_invalid(self):
+        self.form_data['nav_depth'] = 'not_an_integer'
+        self.assert_error('nav_depth', "Enter a whole number.")
+
+    def test_nav_depth_negative(self):
+        self.form_data['nav_depth'] = -1
+        self.assert_error('nav_depth', "Ensure this value is greater than or equal to 0.")
+
+    #-- return_type
+
+    def test_return_type(self):
+        self.form_data['return_type'] = 'list'
+        self.cleaned_data['return_type'] = 'list'
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    def test_return_type_invalid(self):
+        self.form_data['return_type'] = 'invalid_return_type'
+        self.assert_error(
+            'return_type',
+            "Select a valid choice. invalid_return_type is not one of the available choices."
+        )
+
+    #-- requested fields
+
+    def test_requested_fields(self):
+        self.form_data.setlist('requested_fields', ['graded', 'nav_depth', 'some_other_field'])
+        self.cleaned_data['requested_fields'] |= {'graded', 'nav_depth', 'some_other_field'}
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    @ddt.data('block_counts', 'student_view_data')
+    def test_higher_order_field(self, field_name):
+        field_value = {'block_type1', 'block_type2'}
+        self.form_data.setlist(field_name, field_value)
+        self.cleaned_data[field_name] = field_value
+        self.cleaned_data['requested_fields'].add(field_name)
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
+
+    def test_combined_fields(self):
+        # add requested fields
+        self.form_data.setlist('requested_fields', ['field1', 'field2'])
+
+        # add higher order fields
+        block_types_list = {'block_type1', 'block_type2'}
+        for field_name in ['block_counts', 'student_view_data']:
+            self.form_data.setlist(field_name, block_types_list)
+            self.cleaned_data[field_name] = block_types_list
+
+        # verify the requested_fields in cleaned_data includes all fields
+        self.cleaned_data['requested_fields'] |= {'field1', 'field2', 'student_view_data', 'block_counts'}
+        self.assert_equals_cleaned_data()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_serializers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..010b112e6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_serializers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+"""
+Tests for Course Blocks serializers
+"""
+from mock import MagicMock
+
+from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import ToyCourseFactory
+from lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.api import get_course_blocks, COURSE_BLOCK_ACCESS_TRANSFORMERS
+
+from ..transformers.blocks_api import BlocksAPITransformer
+from ..serializers import BlockSerializer, BlockDictSerializer
+from .test_utils import deserialize_usage_key
+
+
+class TestBlockSerializerBase(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Base class for testing BlockSerializer and BlockDictSerializer
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestBlockSerializerBase, cls).setUpClass()
+
+        cls.course = ToyCourseFactory.create()
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestBlockSerializerBase, self).setUp()
+
+        self.user = UserFactory.create()
+        blocks_api_transformer = BlocksAPITransformer(
+            block_types_to_count=['video'],
+            requested_student_view_data=['video'],
+        )
+        self.block_structure = get_course_blocks(
+            self.user,
+            root_block_usage_key=self.course.location,
+            transformers=COURSE_BLOCK_ACCESS_TRANSFORMERS + [blocks_api_transformer],
+        )
+        self.serializer_context = {
+            'request': MagicMock(),
+            'block_structure': self.block_structure,
+            'requested_fields': ['type'],
+        }
+
+    def assert_basic_block(self, block_key_string, serialized_block):
+        """
+        Verifies the given serialized_block when basic fields are requested.
+        """
+        block_key = deserialize_usage_key(block_key_string, self.course.id)
+        self.assertEquals(
+            self.block_structure.get_xblock_field(block_key, 'category'),
+            serialized_block['type'],
+        )
+        self.assertEquals(
+            set(serialized_block.iterkeys()),
+            {'id', 'type', 'lms_web_url', 'student_view_url'},
+        )
+
+    def add_additional_requested_fields(self):
+        """
+        Adds additional fields to the requested_fields context for the serializer.
+        """
+        self.serializer_context['requested_fields'].extend([
+            'children',
+            'display_name',
+            'graded',
+            'format',
+            'block_counts',
+            'student_view_data',
+            'student_view_multi_device',
+        ])
+
+    def assert_extended_block(self, serialized_block):
+        """
+        Verifies the given serialized_block when additional fields are requested.
+        """
+        self.assertLessEqual(
+            {
+                'id', 'type', 'lms_web_url', 'student_view_url',
+                'display_name', 'graded',
+                'block_counts', 'student_view_multi_device',
+            },
+            set(serialized_block.iterkeys()),
+        )
+
+        # video blocks should have student_view_data
+        if serialized_block['type'] == 'video':
+            self.assertIn('student_view_data', serialized_block)
+
+        # html blocks should have student_view_multi_device set to True
+        if serialized_block['type'] == 'html':
+            self.assertIn('student_view_multi_device', serialized_block)
+            self.assertTrue(serialized_block['student_view_multi_device'])
+
+
+class TestBlockSerializer(TestBlockSerializerBase):
+    """
+    Tests the BlockSerializer class, which returns a list of blocks.
+    """
+
+    def create_serializer(self):
+        """
+        creates a BlockSerializer
+        """
+        return BlockSerializer(
+            self.block_structure, many=True, context=self.serializer_context,
+        )
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        serializer = self.create_serializer()
+        for serialized_block in serializer.data:
+            self.assert_basic_block(serialized_block['id'], serialized_block)
+
+    def test_additional_requested_fields(self):
+        self.add_additional_requested_fields()
+        serializer = self.create_serializer()
+        for serialized_block in serializer.data:
+            self.assert_extended_block(serialized_block)
+
+
+class TestBlockDictSerializer(TestBlockSerializerBase):
+    """
+    Tests the BlockDictSerializer class, which returns a dict of blocks key-ed by its block_key.
+    """
+
+    def create_serializer(self):
+        """
+        creates a BlockDictSerializer
+        """
+        return BlockDictSerializer(
+            self.block_structure, many=False, context=self.serializer_context,
+        )
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        serializer = self.create_serializer()
+
+        # verify root
+        self.assertEquals(serializer.data['root'], unicode(self.block_structure.root_block_usage_key))
+
+        # verify blocks
+        for block_key_string, serialized_block in serializer.data['blocks'].iteritems():
+            self.assertEquals(serialized_block['id'], block_key_string)
+            self.assert_basic_block(block_key_string, serialized_block)
+
+    def test_additional_requested_fields(self):
+        self.add_additional_requested_fields()
+        serializer = self.create_serializer()
+        for serialized_block in serializer.data['blocks'].itervalues():
+            self.assert_extended_block(serialized_block)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f10fa7ab1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+"""
+Helper functions for unit tests
+"""
+
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import UsageKey
+
+
+def deserialize_usage_key(usage_key_string, course_key):
+    """
+    Returns the deserialized UsageKey object of the given usage_key_string for the given course.
+    """
+    return UsageKey.from_string(usage_key_string).replace(course_key=course_key)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..35deae23ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/tests/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,258 @@
+"""
+Tests for Blocks Views
+"""
+
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from string import join
+
+from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
+from student.models import CourseEnrollment
+from student.tests.factories import CourseEnrollmentFactory, UserFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import ToyCourseFactory
+
+from .test_utils import deserialize_usage_key
+
+
+class TestBlocksViewMixin(object):
+    """
+    Mixin class for test helpers for BlocksView related classes
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setup_course(cls):
+        """
+        Create a sample course
+        """
+        cls.course_key = ToyCourseFactory.create().id
+
+        cls.non_orphaned_block_usage_keys = set(
+            unicode(item.location)
+            for item in cls.store.get_items(cls.course_key)
+            # remove all orphaned items in the course, except for the root 'course' block
+            if cls.store.get_parent_location(item.location) or item.category == 'course'
+        )
+
+    def setup_user(self):
+        """
+        Create a user, enrolled in the sample course
+        """
+        self.user = UserFactory.create()  # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
+        self.client.login(username=self.user.username, password='test')
+
+        CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=self.user, course_id=self.course_key)
+
+    def verify_response(self, expected_status_code=200, params=None, url=None):
+        """
+        Ensure that the sending a GET request to the specified URL (or self.url)
+        returns the expected status code (200 by default).
+
+        Arguments:
+            expected_status_code: (default 200)
+            params:
+                query parameters to include in the request (includes
+                username=[self.user.username]&depth=all by default)
+            url: (default [self.url])
+
+        Returns:
+            response: The HttpResponse returned by the request
+        """
+        query_params = {'username': self.user.username, 'depth': 'all'}
+        if params:
+            query_params.update(params)
+        response = self.client.get(url or self.url, query_params)
+        self.assertEquals(response.status_code, expected_status_code)
+        return response
+
+    def verify_response_block_list(self, response):
+        """
+        Verify that the response contains only the expected block ids.
+        """
+        self.assertSetEqual(
+            {block['id'] for block in response.data},
+            self.non_orphaned_block_usage_keys,
+        )
+
+    def verify_response_block_dict(self, response):
+        """
+        Verify that the response contains the expected blocks
+        """
+        self.assertSetEqual(
+            set(response.data['blocks'].iterkeys()),
+            self.non_orphaned_block_usage_keys,
+        )
+
+    requested_fields = ['graded', 'format', 'student_view_multi_device', 'children', 'not_a_field']
+
+    def verify_response_with_requested_fields(self, response):
+        """
+        Verify the response has the expected structure
+        """
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+        for block_key_string, block_data in response.data['blocks'].iteritems():
+            block_key = deserialize_usage_key(block_key_string, self.course_key)
+            xblock = self.store.get_item(block_key)
+
+            self.assert_in_iff('children', block_data, xblock.has_children)
+            self.assert_in_iff('graded', block_data, xblock.graded is not None)
+            self.assert_in_iff('format', block_data, xblock.format is not None)
+            self.assert_true_iff(block_data['student_view_multi_device'], block_data['type'] == 'html')
+            self.assertNotIn('not_a_field', block_data)
+
+            if xblock.has_children:
+                self.assertSetEqual(
+                    set(unicode(child.location) for child in xblock.get_children()),
+                    set(block_data['children']),
+                )
+
+    def assert_in_iff(self, member, container, predicate):
+        """
+        Assert that member is in container if and only if predicate is true.
+
+        Arguments:
+            member - any object
+            container - any container
+            predicate - an expression, tested for truthiness
+        """
+        if predicate:
+            self.assertIn(member, container)
+        else:
+            self.assertNotIn(member, container)
+
+    def assert_true_iff(self, expression, predicate):
+        """
+        Assert that the expression is true if and only if the predicate is true
+
+        Arguments:
+            expression
+            predicate
+        """
+
+        if predicate:
+            self.assertTrue(expression)
+        else:
+            self.assertFalse(expression)
+
+
+# pylint: disable=no-member
+class TestBlocksView(TestBlocksViewMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test class for BlocksView
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestBlocksView, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.setup_course()
+        cls.course_usage_key = cls.store.make_course_usage_key(cls.course_key)
+        cls.url = reverse(
+            'blocks_in_block_tree',
+            kwargs={'usage_key_string': unicode(cls.course_usage_key)}
+        )
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestBlocksView, self).setUp()
+        self.setup_user()
+
+    def test_not_authenticated(self):
+        self.client.logout()
+        self.verify_response(401)
+
+    def test_not_enrolled(self):
+        CourseEnrollment.unenroll(self.user, self.course_key)
+        self.verify_response(403)
+
+    def test_non_existent_course(self):
+        usage_key = self.store.make_course_usage_key(CourseLocator('non', 'existent', 'course'))
+        url = reverse(
+            'blocks_in_block_tree',
+            kwargs={'usage_key_string': unicode(usage_key)}
+        )
+        self.verify_response(403, url=url)
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        response = self.verify_response()
+        self.assertEquals(response.data['root'], unicode(self.course_usage_key))
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+        for block_key_string, block_data in response.data['blocks'].iteritems():
+            block_key = deserialize_usage_key(block_key_string, self.course_key)
+            self.assertEquals(block_data['id'], block_key_string)
+            self.assertEquals(block_data['type'], block_key.block_type)
+            self.assertEquals(block_data['display_name'], self.store.get_item(block_key).display_name or '')
+
+    def test_return_type_param(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(params={'return_type': 'list'})
+        self.verify_response_block_list(response)
+
+    def test_block_counts_param(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(params={'block_counts': ['course', 'chapter']})
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+        for block_data in response.data['blocks'].itervalues():
+            self.assertEquals(
+                block_data['block_counts']['course'],
+                1 if block_data['type'] == 'course' else 0,
+            )
+            self.assertEquals(
+                block_data['block_counts']['chapter'],
+                (
+                    1 if block_data['type'] == 'chapter' else
+                    5 if block_data['type'] == 'course' else
+                    0
+                )
+            )
+
+    def test_student_view_data_param(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(params={'student_view_data': ['video', 'chapter']})
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+        for block_data in response.data['blocks'].itervalues():
+            self.assert_in_iff('student_view_data', block_data, block_data['type'] == 'video')
+
+    def test_navigation_param(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(params={'nav_depth': 10})
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+        for block_data in response.data['blocks'].itervalues():
+            self.assertIn('descendants', block_data)
+
+    def test_requested_fields_param(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(
+            params={'requested_fields': self.requested_fields}
+        )
+        self.verify_response_with_requested_fields(response)
+
+
+class TestBlocksInCourseView(TestBlocksViewMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test class for BlocksInCourseView
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestBlocksInCourseView, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.setup_course()
+        cls.url = reverse('blocks_in_course')
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestBlocksInCourseView, self).setUp()
+        self.setup_user()
+
+    def test_basic(self):
+        response = self.verify_response(params={'course_id': unicode(self.course_key)})
+        self.verify_response_block_dict(response)
+
+    def test_no_course_id(self):
+        self.verify_response(400)
+
+    def test_invalid_course_id(self):
+        self.verify_response(400, params={'course_id': 'invalid_course_id'})
+
+    def test_with_list_field_url(self):
+        url = '{base_url}?course_id={course_id}&username={username}&depth=all'.format(
+            course_id=unicode(self.course_key),
+            base_url=self.url.format(),
+            username=self.user.username,
+        )
+        url += '&requested_fields={0}&requested_fields={1}&requested_fields={2}'.format(
+            self.requested_fields[0],
+            self.requested_fields[1],
+            join(self.requested_fields[1:], ','),
+        )
+        response = self.client.get(url)
+        self.assertEquals(response.status_code, 200)
+        self.verify_response_with_requested_fields(response)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..31967e2ce2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+"""
+Course API Block Transformers
+"""
+
+from .student_view import StudentViewTransformer
+from .block_counts import BlockCountsTransformer
+from .navigation import BlockNavigationTransformer
+
+
+class SupportedFieldType(object):
+    """
+    Metadata about fields supported by different transformers
+    """
+    def __init__(
+            self,
+            block_field_name,
+            transformer=None,
+            requested_field_name=None,
+            serializer_field_name=None,
+            default_value=None
+    ):
+        self.transformer = transformer
+        self.block_field_name = block_field_name
+        self.requested_field_name = requested_field_name or block_field_name
+        self.serializer_field_name = serializer_field_name or self.requested_field_name
+        self.default_value = default_value
+
+
+# A list of metadata for additional requested fields to be used by the
+# BlockSerializer` class.  Each entry provides information on how that field can
+# be requested (`requested_field_name`), can be found (`transformer` and
+# `block_field_name`), and should be serialized (`serializer_field_name` and
+# `default_value`).
+
+SUPPORTED_FIELDS = [
+    SupportedFieldType('category', requested_field_name='type'),
+    SupportedFieldType('display_name', default_value=''),
+    SupportedFieldType('graded'),
+    SupportedFieldType('format'),
+    # 'student_view_data'
+    SupportedFieldType(StudentViewTransformer.STUDENT_VIEW_DATA, StudentViewTransformer),
+    # 'student_view_multi_device'
+    SupportedFieldType(StudentViewTransformer.STUDENT_VIEW_MULTI_DEVICE, StudentViewTransformer),
+
+    # set the block_field_name to None so the entire data for the transformer is serialized
+    SupportedFieldType(None, BlockCountsTransformer, BlockCountsTransformer.BLOCK_COUNTS),
+
+    SupportedFieldType(
+        BlockNavigationTransformer.BLOCK_NAVIGATION,
+        BlockNavigationTransformer,
+        requested_field_name='nav_depth',
+        serializer_field_name='descendants',
+    )
+]
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b8be4ef29d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/transformers/blocks_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+"""
+Blocks API Transformer
+"""
+from openedx.core.lib.block_cache.transformer import BlockStructureTransformer
+from .block_counts import BlockCountsTransformer
+from .block_depth import BlockDepthTransformer
+from .navigation import BlockNavigationTransformer
+from .student_view import StudentViewTransformer
+
+
+class BlocksAPITransformer(BlockStructureTransformer):
+    """
+    Umbrella transformer that contains all the transformers needed by the
+    Course Blocks API.
+
+    Contained Transformers (in this order):
+        StudentViewTransformer
+        BlockCountsTransformer
+        BlockDepthTransformer
+        BlockNavigationTransformer
+    """
+
+    VERSION = 1
+    STUDENT_VIEW_DATA = 'student_view_data'
+    STUDENT_VIEW_MULTI_DEVICE = 'student_view_multi_device'
+
+    def __init__(self, block_types_to_count, requested_student_view_data, depth=None, nav_depth=None):
+        self.block_types_to_count = block_types_to_count
+        self.requested_student_view_data = requested_student_view_data
+        self.depth = depth
+        self.nav_depth = nav_depth
+
+    @classmethod
+    def name(cls):
+        return "blocks_api"
+
+    @classmethod
+    def collect(cls, block_structure):
+        """
+        Collects any information that's necessary to execute this transformer's
+        transform method.
+        """
+        # collect basic xblock fields
+        block_structure.request_xblock_fields('graded', 'format', 'display_name', 'category')
+
+        # collect data from containing transformers
+        StudentViewTransformer.collect(block_structure)
+        BlockCountsTransformer.collect(block_structure)
+        BlockDepthTransformer.collect(block_structure)
+        BlockNavigationTransformer.collect(block_structure)
+
+        # TODO support olx_data by calling export_to_xml(?)
+
+    def transform(self, usage_info, block_structure):
+        """
+        Mutates block_structure based on the given usage_info.
+        """
+        StudentViewTransformer(self.requested_student_view_data).transform(usage_info, block_structure)
+        BlockCountsTransformer(self.block_types_to_count).transform(usage_info, block_structure)
+        BlockDepthTransformer(self.depth).transform(usage_info, block_structure)
+        BlockNavigationTransformer(self.nav_depth).transform(usage_info, block_structure)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/urls.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e40a7d7082
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+"""
+Course Block API URLs
+"""
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.conf.urls import patterns, url
+from .views import BlocksView, BlocksInCourseView
+
+
+urlpatterns = patterns(
+    '',
+    # This endpoint requires the usage_key for the starting block.
+    url(
+        r'^v1/blocks/{}'.format(settings.USAGE_KEY_PATTERN),
+        BlocksView.as_view(),
+        name="blocks_in_block_tree"
+    ),
+
+    # This endpoint is an alternative to the above, but requires course_id as a parameter.
+    url(
+        r'^v1/blocks/',
+        BlocksInCourseView.as_view(),
+        name="blocks_in_course"
+    ),
+)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ed44d1f496
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/blocks/views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+"""
+CourseBlocks API views
+"""
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.http import Http404
+from rest_framework.generics import ListAPIView
+from rest_framework.response import Response
+
+from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from openedx.core.lib.api.view_utils import view_auth_classes, DeveloperErrorViewMixin
+from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+from xmodule.modulestore.exceptions import ItemNotFoundError
+
+from .api import get_blocks
+from .forms import BlockListGetForm
+
+
+@view_auth_classes()
+class BlocksView(DeveloperErrorViewMixin, ListAPIView):
+    """
+    **Use Case**
+
+        Returns the blocks within the requested block tree according to the
+        requesting user's access level.
+
+    **Example requests**:
+
+        GET /api/courses/v1/blocks/<root_block_usage_id>/?depth=all
+        GET /api/courses/v1/blocks/<usage_id>/?
+            username=anjali
+            &depth=all
+            &requested_fields=graded,format,student_view_multi_device
+            &block_counts=video
+            &student_view_data=video
+
+    **Parameters**:
+
+        * username: (string) The name of the user on whose behalf we want to
+          see the data.
+
+          Default is the logged in user
+
+          Example: username=anjali
+
+        * student_view_data: (list) Indicates for which block types to return
+          student_view_data.
+
+          Example: student_view_data=video
+
+        * block_counts: (list) Indicates for which block types to return the
+          aggregate count of the blocks.
+
+          Example: block_counts=video,problem
+
+        * requested_fields: (list) Indicates which additional fields to return
+          for each block.  For a list of available fields see under `Response
+          Values -> blocks`, below.
+
+          The following fields are always returned: id, type, display_name
+
+          Example: requested_fields=graded,format,student_view_multi_device
+
+        * depth: (integer or all) Indicates how deep to traverse into the blocks
+          hierarchy.  A value of all means the entire hierarchy.
+
+          Default is 0
+
+          Example: depth=all
+
+        * nav_depth: (integer)
+
+          WARNING: nav_depth is not supported, and may be removed at any time.
+
+          Indicates how far deep to traverse into the
+          course hierarchy before bundling all the descendants.
+
+          Default is 3 since typical navigational views of the course show a
+          maximum of chapter->sequential->vertical.
+
+          Example: nav_depth=3
+
+        * return_type (string) Indicates in what data type to return the
+          blocks.
+
+          Default is dict. Supported values are: dict, list
+
+          Example: return_type=dict
+
+    **Response Values**
+
+        The following fields are returned with a successful response.
+
+        * root: The ID of the root node of the course blocks.
+
+        * blocks: A dictionary that maps block usage IDs to a collection of
+          information about each block.  Each block contains the following
+          fields.
+
+          * id: (string) The usage ID of the block.
+
+          * type: (string) The type of block. Possible values include course,
+            chapter, sequential, vertical, html, problem, video, and
+            discussion. The type can also be the name of a custom type of block
+            used for the course.
+
+          * display_name: (string) The display name of the block.
+
+          * children: (list) If the block has child blocks, a list of IDs of
+            the child blocks.  Returned only if "children" is included in the
+            "requested_fields" parameter.
+
+          * block_counts: (dict) For each block type specified in the
+            block_counts parameter to the endpoint, the aggregate number of
+            blocks of that type for this block and all of its descendants.
+            Returned only if the "block_counts" input parameter contains this
+            block's type.
+
+          * graded (boolean) Whether or not the block or any of its descendants
+            is graded.  Returned only if "graded" is included in the
+            "requested_fields" parameter.
+
+          * format: (string) The assignment type of the block.  Possible values
+            can be "Homework", "Lab", "Midterm Exam", and "Final Exam".
+            Returned only if "format" is included in the "requested_fields"
+            parameter.
+
+          * student_view_data: (dict) The JSON data for this block.
+            Returned only if the "student_view_data" input parameter contains
+            this block's type.
+
+          * student_view_url: (string) The URL to retrieve the HTML rendering
+            of this block's student view.  The HTML could include CSS and
+            Javascript code. This field can be used in combination with the
+            student_view_multi_device field to decide whether to display this
+            content to the user.
+
+            This URL can be used as a fallback if the student_view_data for
+            this block type is not supported by the client or the block.
+
+          * student_view_multi_device: (boolean) Whether or not the block's
+            rendering obtained via block_url has support for multiple devices.
+            Returned only if "student_view_multi_device" is included in the
+            "requested_fields" parameter.
+
+          * lms_web_url: (string) The URL to the navigational container of the
+            xBlock on the web LMS.  This URL can be used as a further fallback
+            if the student_view_url and the student_view_data fields are not
+            supported.
+
+    """
+
+    def list(self, request, usage_key_string):  # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
+        """
+        REST API endpoint for listing all the blocks information in the course,
+        while regarding user access and roles.
+
+        Arguments:
+            request - Django request object
+            usage_key_string - The usage key for a block.
+        """
+
+        # validate request parameters
+        requested_params = request.QUERY_PARAMS.copy()
+        requested_params.update({'usage_key': usage_key_string})
+        params = BlockListGetForm(requested_params, initial={'requesting_user': request.user})
+        if not params.is_valid():
+            raise ValidationError(params.errors)
+
+        try:
+            return Response(
+                get_blocks(
+                    request,
+                    params.cleaned_data['usage_key'],
+                    params.cleaned_data['user'],
+                    params.cleaned_data['depth'],
+                    params.cleaned_data.get('nav_depth'),
+                    params.cleaned_data['requested_fields'],
+                    params.cleaned_data.get('block_counts', []),
+                    params.cleaned_data.get('student_view_data', []),
+                    params.cleaned_data['return_type']
+                )
+            )
+        except ItemNotFoundError as exception:
+            raise Http404("Block not found: {}".format(exception.message))
+
+
+@view_auth_classes()
+class BlocksInCourseView(BlocksView):
+    """
+    **Use Case**
+
+        Returns the blocks in the course according to the requesting user's
+        access level.
+
+    **Example requests**:
+
+        GET /api/courses/v1/blocks/?course_id=<course_id>
+        GET /api/courses/v1/blocks/?course_id=<course_id>
+            &username=anjali
+            &depth=all
+            &requested_fields=graded,format,student_view_multi_device
+            &block_counts=video
+            &student_view_data=video
+
+    **Parameters**:
+
+        This view redirects to /api/courses/v1/blocks/<root_usage_key>/ for the
+        root usage key of the course specified by course_id.  The view accepts
+        all parameters accepted by :class:`BlocksView`, plus the following
+        required parameter
+
+        * course_id: (string, required) The ID of the course whose block data
+          we want to return
+
+    **Response Values**
+
+        Responses are identical to those returned by :class:`BlocksView` when
+        passed the root_usage_key of the requested course.
+
+        If the course_id is not supplied, a 400: Bad Request is returned, with
+        a message indicating that course_id is required.
+
+        If an invalid course_id is supplied, a 400: Bad Request is returned,
+        with a message indicating that the course_id is not valid.
+    """
+
+    def list(self, request):  # pylint: disable=arguments-differ
+        """
+        Retrieves the usage_key for the requested course, and then returns the
+        same information that would be returned by BlocksView.list, called with
+        that usage key
+
+        Arguments:
+            request - Django request object
+        """
+
+        # convert the requested course_key to the course's root block's usage_key
+        course_key_string = request.QUERY_PARAMS.get('course_id', None)
+        if not course_key_string:
+            raise ValidationError('course_id is required.')
+
+        try:
+            course_key = CourseKey.from_string(course_key_string)
+            course_usage_key = modulestore().make_course_usage_key(course_key)
+        except InvalidKeyError:
+            raise ValidationError("'{}' is not a valid course key.".format(unicode(course_key_string)))
+        return super(BlocksInCourseView, self).list(request, course_usage_key)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7800ad2e67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+"""
+Course API URLs
+"""
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.conf.urls import patterns, url, include
+
+from .views import CourseView
+
+
+urlpatterns = patterns(
+    '',
+    url(r'^v1/courses/{}'.format(settings.COURSE_KEY_PATTERN), CourseView.as_view(), name="course_detail"),
+    url(r'', include('course_api.blocks.urls'))
+)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..64d20bd889
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""
+Course API Views
+"""
+
+from rest_framework.views import APIView
+from rest_framework.response import Response
+from rest_framework.reverse import reverse
+
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from openedx.core.lib.api.view_utils import view_auth_classes
+from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+
+
+@view_auth_classes()
+class CourseView(APIView):
+    """
+    Course API view
+    """
+
+    def get(self, request, course_key_string):
+        """
+        Request information on a course specified by `course_key_string`.
+            Body consists of a `blocks_url` that can be used to fetch the
+            blocks for the requested course.
+
+        Arguments:
+            request (HttpRequest)
+            course_key_string
+
+        Returns:
+            HttpResponse: 200 on success
+
+
+        Example Usage:
+
+            GET /api/courses/v1/[course_key_string]
+            200 OK
+
+        Example response:
+
+            {"blocks_url": "https://server/api/courses/v1/blocks/[usage_key]"}
+        """
+
+        course_key = CourseKey.from_string(course_key_string)
+        course_usage_key = modulestore().make_course_usage_key(course_key)
+
+        blocks_url = reverse(
+            'blocks_in_block_tree',
+            kwargs={'usage_key_string': unicode(course_usage_key)},
+            request=request,
+        )
+
+        return Response({'blocks_url': blocks_url})
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/forms.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/forms.py
index 62c902bd65..c986663a3e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/forms.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/forms.py
@@ -6,26 +6,14 @@ from django.forms import (
     BooleanField,
     CharField,
     ChoiceField,
-    Field,
     Form,
     IntegerField,
-    MultipleHiddenInput,
     NullBooleanField,
 )
 
 from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
-
-
-class TopicIdField(Field):
-    """
-    Field for a list of topic_ids
-    """
-    widget = MultipleHiddenInput
-
-    def validate(self, value):
-        if value and "" in value:
-            raise ValidationError("This field cannot be empty.")
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.util.forms import MultiValueField
 
 
 class _PaginationForm(Form):
@@ -49,7 +37,7 @@ class ThreadListGetForm(_PaginationForm):
     EXCLUSIVE_PARAMS = ["topic_id", "text_search", "following"]
 
     course_id = CharField()
-    topic_id = TopicIdField(required=False)
+    topic_id = MultiValueField(required=False)
     text_search = CharField(required=False)
     following = NullBooleanField(required=False)
     view = ChoiceField(
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_forms.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_forms.py
index e6ea3931cb..28db7d9a9a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_forms.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_forms.py
@@ -10,39 +10,10 @@ import ddt
 from django.http import QueryDict
 
 from opaque_keys.edx.locator import CourseLocator
-
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.util.test_forms import FormTestMixin
 from discussion_api.forms import CommentListGetForm, ThreadListGetForm
 
 
-class FormTestMixin(object):
-    """A mixin for testing forms"""
-    def get_form(self, expected_valid):
-        """
-        Return a form bound to self.form_data, asserting its validity (or lack
-        thereof) according to expected_valid
-        """
-        form = self.FORM_CLASS(self.form_data)
-        self.assertEqual(form.is_valid(), expected_valid)
-        return form
-
-    def assert_error(self, expected_field, expected_message):
-        """
-        Create a form bound to self.form_data, assert its invalidity, and assert
-        that its error dictionary contains one entry with the expected field and
-        message
-        """
-        form = self.get_form(expected_valid=False)
-        self.assertEqual(form.errors, {expected_field: [expected_message]})
-
-    def assert_field_value(self, field, expected_value):
-        """
-        Create a form bound to self.form_data, assert its validity, and assert
-        that the given field in the cleaned data has the expected value
-        """
-        form = self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
-        self.assertEqual(form.cleaned_data[field], expected_value)
-
-
 class PaginationTestMixin(object):
     """A mixin for testing forms with pagination fields"""
     def test_missing_page(self):
@@ -92,7 +63,7 @@ class ThreadListGetFormTest(FormTestMixin, PaginationTestMixin, TestCase):
                 "course_id": CourseLocator.from_string("Foo/Bar/Baz"),
                 "page": 2,
                 "page_size": 13,
-                "topic_id": [],
+                "topic_id": set(),
                 "text_search": "",
                 "following": None,
                 "view": "",
@@ -106,7 +77,7 @@ class ThreadListGetFormTest(FormTestMixin, PaginationTestMixin, TestCase):
         form = self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
         self.assertEqual(
             form.cleaned_data["topic_id"],
-            ["example topic_id", "example 2nd topic_id"],
+            {"example topic_id", "example 2nd topic_id"},
         )
 
     def test_text_search(self):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
index d3c6a4517f..b2c1090440 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class CourseViewTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assert_response_correct(
             response,
             404,
-            {"developer_message": "Not found."}
+            {"developer_message": "Course not found."}
         )
 
     def test_get_success(self):
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ class CourseTopicsViewTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assert_response_correct(
             response,
             404,
-            {"developer_message": "Not found."}
+            {"developer_message": "Course not found."}
         )
 
     def test_get_success(self):
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class ThreadViewSetListTest(DiscussionAPIViewTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
         self.assert_response_correct(
             response,
             404,
-            {"developer_message": "Not found."}
+            {"developer_message": "Course not found."}
         )
 
     def test_basic(self):
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 07c28cc589..d360848c73 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ urlpatterns = (
     # Course content API
     url(r'^api/course_structure/', include('course_structure_api.urls', namespace='course_structure_api')),
 
+    # Course API
+    url(r'^api/courses/', include('course_api.urls')),
+
     # User API endpoints
     url(r'^api/user/', include('openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.urls')),
 
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/forms.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/forms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..aa7c5a6f4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/forms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""
+Custom forms-related types
+"""
+
+from django.core.exceptions import ValidationError
+from django.forms import Field, MultipleHiddenInput
+
+
+class MultiValueField(Field):
+    """
+    Field class that supports a set of values for a single form field.
+
+    The field input can be specified as:
+        1. a comma-separated-list (foo:bar1,bar2,bar3), or
+        2. a repeated field in a MultiValueDict (foo:bar1, foo:bar2, foo:bar3)
+        3. a combination of the above (foo:bar1,bar2, foo:bar3)
+
+    Note that there is currently no way to pass a value that includes a comma.
+
+    The resulting field value is a python set of the values as strings.
+    """
+    widget = MultipleHiddenInput
+
+    def to_python(self, list_of_string_values):
+        """
+        Convert the form input to a list of strings
+        """
+        values = super(MultiValueField, self).to_python(list_of_string_values) or set()
+
+        if values:
+            # combine all values if there were multiple specified individually
+            values = ','.join(values)
+
+            # parse them into a set
+            values = set(values.split(',')) if values else set()
+
+        return values
+
+    def validate(self, values):
+        """
+        Ensure no empty values were passed
+        """
+        if values and "" in values:
+            raise ValidationError("This field cannot be empty.")
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/test_forms.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/test_forms.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..818d76c9a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/util/test_forms.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""
+Mixins for testing forms.
+"""
+
+
+class FormTestMixin(object):
+    """A mixin for testing forms"""
+    def get_form(self, expected_valid):
+        """
+        Return a form bound to self.form_data, asserting its validity (or lack
+        thereof) according to expected_valid
+        """
+        form = self.FORM_CLASS(self.form_data, initial=getattr(self, 'initial', None))
+        self.assertEqual(form.is_valid(), expected_valid)
+        return form
+
+    def assert_error(self, expected_field, expected_message):
+        """
+        Create a form bound to self.form_data, assert its invalidity, and assert
+        that its error dictionary contains one entry with the expected field and
+        message
+        """
+        form = self.get_form(expected_valid=False)
+        self.assertEqual(form.errors, {expected_field: [expected_message]})
+
+    def assert_field_value(self, field, expected_value):
+        """
+        Create a form bound to self.form_data, assert its validity, and assert
+        that the given field in the cleaned data has the expected value
+        """
+        form = self.get_form(expected_valid=True)
+        self.assertEqual(form.cleaned_data[field], expected_value)
diff --git a/openedx/core/lib/api/view_utils.py b/openedx/core/lib/api/view_utils.py
index d736b86bc0..fe57f6faa8 100644
--- a/openedx/core/lib/api/view_utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/lib/api/view_utils.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class DeveloperErrorViewMixin(object):
         if isinstance(exc, APIException):
             return self.make_error_response(exc.status_code, exc.detail)
         elif isinstance(exc, Http404):
-            return self.make_error_response(404, "Not found.")
+            return self.make_error_response(404, exc.message or "Not found.")
         elif isinstance(exc, ValidationError):
             return self.make_validation_error_response(exc)
         else:
diff --git a/openedx/core/lib/block_cache/block_structure.py b/openedx/core/lib/block_cache/block_structure.py
index a8db0497e7..4fedfe38d1 100644
--- a/openedx/core/lib/block_cache/block_structure.py
+++ b/openedx/core/lib/block_cache/block_structure.py
@@ -398,7 +398,7 @@ class BlockStructureBlockData(BlockStructure):
         else:
             return block_data.transformer_data.get(transformer.name(), default)
 
-    def remove_transformer_block_data(self, usage_key, transformer):
+    def remove_transformer_block_field(self, usage_key, transformer, key):
         """
         Deletes the given transformer's entire data dict for the
         block identified by the given usage_key.
@@ -410,7 +410,8 @@ class BlockStructureBlockData(BlockStructure):
             transformer (BlockStructureTransformer) - The transformer
                 whose data entry is to be deleted.
         """
-        self._block_data_map[usage_key].transformer_data.pop(transformer.name(), None)
+        transformer_block_data = self.get_transformer_block_data(usage_key, transformer)
+        transformer_block_data.pop(key, None)
 
     def remove_block(self, usage_key, keep_descendants):
         """
@@ -488,6 +489,19 @@ class BlockStructureBlockData(BlockStructure):
         for _ in self.topological_traversal(filter_func=filter_func, **kwargs):
             pass
 
+    def get_block_keys(self):
+        """
+        Returns the block keys in the block structure.
+
+        Returns:
+            iterator(UsageKey) - An iterator of the usage
+            keys of all the blocks in the block structure.
+        """
+        return self._block_relations.iterkeys()
+
+    #--- Internal methods ---#
+    # To be used within the block_cache framework or by tests.
+
     def _get_transformer_data_version(self, transformer):
         """
         Returns the version number stored for the given transformer.
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index b59b5fd156..83478fe3b4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -50,9 +50,12 @@ setup(
         ],
         "openedx.block_structure_transformer": [
             "library_content = lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.transformers.library_content:ContentLibraryTransformer",
+            "split_test = lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.transformers.split_test:SplitTestTransformer",
             "start_date = lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.transformers.start_date:StartDateTransformer",
             "user_partitions = lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.transformers.user_partitions:UserPartitionTransformer",
             "visibility = lms.djangoapps.course_blocks.transformers.visibility:VisibilityTransformer",
+            "course_blocks_api = lms.djangoapps.course_api.blocks.transformers.blocks_api:BlocksAPITransformer",
+            "proctored_exam = lms.djangoapps.course_api.blocks.transformers.proctored_exam:ProctoredExamTransformer",
         ],
     }
 )