diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/django_utils.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/django_utils.py
index 293c49c556..9d80d29bd1 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/django_utils.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/django_utils.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 Modulestore configuration for test cases.
 """
 import datetime
+import functools
 import pytz
 from uuid import uuid4
 
@@ -220,7 +221,8 @@ class SharedModuleStoreTestCase(TestCase):
     Subclass for any test case that uses a ModuleStore that can be shared
     between individual tests. This class ensures that the ModuleStore is cleaned
     before/after the entire test case has run. Use this class if your tests
-    set up one or a small number of courses that individual tests do not modify.
+    set up one or a small number of courses that individual tests do not modify
+    (or modify extermely rarely -- see @modifies_courseware).
     If your tests modify contents in the ModuleStore, you should use
     ModuleStoreTestCase instead.
 
@@ -279,6 +281,52 @@ class SharedModuleStoreTestCase(TestCase):
         OverrideFieldData.provider_classes = None
         super(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, self).setUp()
 
+    def reset(self):
+        """
+        Manually run tearDownClass/setUpClass again.
+
+        This is so that if you have a mostly read-only course that you're just
+        modifying in one test, you can write `self.reset()` at the
+        end of that test and reset the state of the world for other tests in
+        the class.
+        """
+        self.tearDownClass()
+        self.setUpClass()
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def modifies_courseware(f):
+        """
+        Decorator to place around tests that modify course content.
+
+        For performance reasons, SharedModuleStoreTestCase intentionally does
+        not reset the modulestore between individual tests. However, sometimes
+        you might have a test case where the vast majority of tests treat a
+        course as read-only, but one or two want to modify it. In that case, you
+        can do this:
+
+            class MyTestCase(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+                # ...
+                @SharedModuleStoreTestCase.modifies_courseware
+                def test_that_edits_modulestore(self):
+                    do_something()
+
+        This is equivalent to calling `self.reset()` at the end of
+        your test.
+
+        If you find yourself using this functionality a lot, it might indicate
+        that you should be using ModuleStoreTestCase instead, or that you should
+        break up your tests into different TestCases.
+        """
+        @functools.wraps(f)
+        def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+            """Call the object method, and reset the test case afterwards."""
+            return_val = f(*args, **kwargs)
+            obj = args[0]
+            obj.reset()
+            return return_val
+
+        return wrapper
+
 
 class ModuleStoreTestCase(TestCase):
     """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_access.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_access.py
index 7ddbd7233e..f66d3957a0 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_access.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_access.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from nose.tools import raises
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 
 from student.roles import CourseBetaTesterRole, CourseStaffRole
 
@@ -19,13 +19,15 @@ from instructor.access import (allow_access,
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAccessList(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAccessList(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """ Test access listings. """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAccessList, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAccessList, self).setUp()
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-
         self.instructors = [UserFactory.create() for _ in xrange(4)]
         for user in self.instructors:
             allow_access(self.course, user, 'instructor')
@@ -43,8 +45,13 @@ class TestInstructorAccessList(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAccessAllow(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAccessAllow(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """ Test access allow. """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAccessAllow, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAccessAllow, self).setUp()
 
@@ -79,13 +86,15 @@ class TestInstructorAccessAllow(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAccessRevoke(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAccessRevoke(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """ Test access revoke. """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAccessRevoke, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAccessRevoke, self).setUp()
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-
         self.staff = [UserFactory.create() for _ in xrange(4)]
         for user in self.staff:
             allow_access(self.course, user, 'staff')
@@ -115,15 +124,17 @@ class TestInstructorAccessRevoke(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAccessForum(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAccessForum(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test forum access control.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAccessForum, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAccessForum, self).setUp()
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-
         self.mod_role = Role.objects.create(
             course_id=self.course.id,
             name=FORUM_ROLE_MODERATOR
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
index 1703ae7960..9dfc50f26e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseModeFactory, AdminFactory
 from student.roles import CourseBetaTesterRole, CourseSalesAdminRole, CourseFinanceAdminRole, CourseInstructorRole
 from xmodule.modulestore import ModuleStoreEnum
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory, ItemFactory
 from xmodule.fields import Date
 
@@ -184,22 +184,26 @@ class TestCommonExceptions400(TestCase):
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch('bulk_email.models.html_to_text', Mock(return_value='Mocking CourseEmail.text_message'))
 @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ENABLE_INSTRUCTOR_EMAIL': True, 'REQUIRE_COURSE_EMAIL_AUTH': False})
-class TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Ensure that users cannot access endpoints they shouldn't be able to.
     """
 
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
+            cls.course.id,
+            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
+        )
+        cls.problem_urlname = cls.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.user = UserFactory.create()
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.user, self.course.id)
 
-        self.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
-            self.course.id,
-            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
-        )
-        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
         _module = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.user,
             course_id=self.course.id,
@@ -347,18 +351,22 @@ class TestInstructorAPIDenyLevels(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ALLOW_AUTOMATED_SIGNUPS': True})
-class TestInstructorAPIBulkAccountCreationAndEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIBulkAccountCreationAndEnrollment(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test Bulk account creation and enrollment from csv file
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIBulkAccountCreationAndEnrollment, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.url = reverse('register_and_enroll_students', kwargs={'course_id': cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIBulkAccountCreationAndEnrollment, self).setUp()
 
         self.request = RequestFactory().request()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
-        self.url = reverse('register_and_enroll_students', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
 
         self.not_enrolled_student = UserFactory(
             username='NotEnrolledStudent',
@@ -647,7 +655,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPIBulkAccountCreationAndEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, Log
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @ddt.ddt
-class TestInstructorAPIEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIEnrollment(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test enrollment modification endpoint.
 
@@ -655,11 +663,23 @@ class TestInstructorAPIEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     job of test_enrollment. This tests the response and action switch.
     """
 
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIEnrollment, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
+        # Email URL values
+        cls.site_name = microsite.get_value(
+            'SITE_NAME',
+            settings.SITE_NAME
+        )
+        cls.about_path = '/courses/{}/about'.format(cls.course.id)
+        cls.course_path = '/courses/{}/'.format(cls.course.id)
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIEnrollment, self).setUp()
 
         self.request = RequestFactory().request()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
@@ -679,14 +699,6 @@ class TestInstructorAPIEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
         self.notregistered_email = 'robot-not-an-email-yet@robot.org'
         self.assertEqual(User.objects.filter(email=self.notregistered_email).count(), 0)
 
-        # Email URL values
-        self.site_name = microsite.get_value(
-            'SITE_NAME',
-            settings.SITE_NAME
-        )
-        self.about_path = '/courses/{}/about'.format(self.course.id)
-        self.course_path = '/courses/{}/'.format(self.course.id)
-
         # uncomment to enable enable printing of large diffs
         # from failed assertions in the event of a test failure.
         # (comment because pylint C0103(invalid-name))
@@ -1399,15 +1411,25 @@ class TestInstructorAPIEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @ddt.ddt
-class TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test bulk beta modify access endpoint.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        # Email URL values
+        cls.site_name = microsite.get_value(
+            'SITE_NAME',
+            settings.SITE_NAME
+        )
+        cls.about_path = '/courses/{}/about'.format(cls.course.id)
+        cls.course_path = '/courses/{}/'.format(cls.course.id)
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
@@ -1425,14 +1447,6 @@ class TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTe
 
         self.request = RequestFactory().request()
 
-        # Email URL values
-        self.site_name = microsite.get_value(
-            'SITE_NAME',
-            settings.SITE_NAME
-        )
-        self.about_path = '/courses/{}/about'.format(self.course.id)
-        self.course_path = '/courses/{}/'.format(self.course.id)
-
         # uncomment to enable enable printing of large diffs
         # from failed assertions in the event of a test failure.
         # (comment because pylint C0103(invalid-name))
@@ -1720,7 +1734,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPIBulkBetaEnrollment(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTe
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test endpoints whereby instructors can change permissions
     of other users.
@@ -1731,11 +1745,14 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase
     Actually, modify_access does not have a very meaningful
     response yet, so only the status code is tested.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
@@ -1961,14 +1978,17 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsAccess(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase
 @attr('shard_1')
 @ddt.ddt
 @patch.dict('django.conf.settings.FEATURES', {'ENABLE_PAID_COURSE_REGISTRATION': True})
-class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test endpoints that show data without side effects.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.course_mode = CourseMode(course_id=self.course.id,
                                       mode_slug="honor",
                                       mode_display_name="honor cert",
@@ -2539,9 +2559,11 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCa
         body = response.content.replace('\r', '')
         self.assertTrue(body.startswith(
             '"User ID","Anonymized User ID","Course Specific Anonymized User ID"'
-            '\n"3","41","42"\n'
+            '\n"{user_id}","41","42"\n'.format(user_id=self.students[0].id)
         ))
-        self.assertTrue(body.endswith('"8","41","42"\n'))
+        self.assertTrue(
+            body.endswith('"{user_id}","41","42"\n'.format(user_id=self.students[-1].id))
+        )
 
     def test_list_report_downloads(self):
         url = reverse('list_report_downloads', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
@@ -2664,7 +2686,7 @@ class TestInstructorAPILevelsDataDump(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCa
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test endpoints whereby instructors can change student grades.
     This includes resetting attempts and starting rescore tasks.
@@ -2672,23 +2694,24 @@ class TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase)
     This test does NOT test whether the actions had an effect on the
     database, that is the job of task tests and test_enrollment.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
+            cls.course.id,
+            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
+        )
+        cls.problem_urlname = cls.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
         self.student = UserFactory()
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.student, self.course.id)
 
-        self.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
-            self.course.id,
-            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
-        )
-
-        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
-
         self.module_to_reset = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
             course_id=self.course.id,
@@ -2827,21 +2850,51 @@ class TestInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase)
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ENTRANCE_EXAMS': True})
-class TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test endpoints whereby instructors can rescore student grades,
     reset student attempts and delete state for entrance exam.
     """
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create(
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create(
             org='test_org',
             course='test_course',
             run='test_run',
             entrance_exam_id='i4x://{}/{}/chapter/Entrance_exam'.format('test_org', 'test_course')
         )
-        self.course_with_invalid_ee = CourseFactory.create(entrance_exam_id='invalid_exam')
+        cls.course_with_invalid_ee = CourseFactory.create(entrance_exam_id='invalid_exam')
+
+        with cls.store.bulk_operations(cls.course.id, emit_signals=False):
+            cls.entrance_exam = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent=cls.course,
+                category='chapter',
+                display_name='Entrance exam'
+            )
+            subsection = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent=cls.entrance_exam,
+                category='sequential',
+                display_name='Subsection 1'
+            )
+            vertical = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent=subsection,
+                category='vertical',
+                display_name='Vertical 1'
+            )
+            cls.ee_problem_1 = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent=vertical,
+                category="problem",
+                display_name="Exam Problem - Problem 1"
+            )
+            cls.ee_problem_2 = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent=vertical,
+                category="problem",
+                display_name="Exam Problem - Problem 2"
+            )
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask, self).setUp()
 
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         # Add instructor to invalid ee course
@@ -2851,32 +2904,6 @@ class TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollm
         self.student = UserFactory()
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.student, self.course.id)
 
-        self.entrance_exam = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent=self.course,
-            category='chapter',
-            display_name='Entrance exam'
-        )
-        subsection = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent=self.entrance_exam,
-            category='sequential',
-            display_name='Subsection 1'
-        )
-        vertical = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent=subsection,
-            category='vertical',
-            display_name='Vertical 1'
-        )
-        self.ee_problem_1 = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent=vertical,
-            category="problem",
-            display_name="Exam Problem - Problem 1"
-        )
-        self.ee_problem_2 = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent=vertical,
-            category="problem",
-            display_name="Exam Problem - Problem 2"
-        )
-
         ee_module_to_reset1 = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
             course_id=self.course.id,
@@ -3073,27 +3100,30 @@ class TestEntranceExamInstructorAPIRegradeTask(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollm
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch('bulk_email.models.html_to_text', Mock(return_value='Mocking CourseEmail.text_message'))
 @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ENABLE_INSTRUCTOR_EMAIL': True, 'REQUIRE_COURSE_EMAIL_AUTH': False})
-class TestInstructorSendEmail(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorSendEmail(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Checks that only instructors have access to email endpoints, and that
     these endpoints are only accessible with courses that actually exist,
     only with valid email messages.
     """
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestInstructorSendEmail, self).setUp()
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-        self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
-        self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorSendEmail, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
         test_subject = u'\u1234 test subject'
         test_message = u'\u6824 test message'
-        self.full_test_message = {
+        cls.full_test_message = {
             'send_to': 'staff',
             'subject': test_subject,
             'message': test_message,
         }
 
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestInstructorSendEmail, self).setUp()
+
+        self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
+        self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
+
     def test_send_email_as_logged_in_instructor(self):
         url = reverse('send_email', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
         response = self.client.post(url, self.full_test_message)
@@ -3156,7 +3186,7 @@ class MockCompletionInfo(object):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAPITaskLists(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPITaskLists(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test instructor task list endpoint.
     """
@@ -3204,23 +3234,26 @@ class TestInstructorAPITaskLists(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
             attr_dict['created'] = attr_dict['created'].isoformat()
             return attr_dict
 
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestInstructorAPITaskLists, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create(
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPITaskLists, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create(
             entrance_exam_id='i4x://{}/{}/chapter/Entrance_exam'.format('test_org', 'test_course')
         )
+        cls.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
+            cls.course.id,
+            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
+        )
+        cls.problem_urlname = cls.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestInstructorAPITaskLists, self).setUp()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
         self.student = UserFactory()
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.student, self.course.id)
 
-        self.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
-            self.course.id,
-            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
-        )
-        self.problem_urlname = self.problem_location.to_deprecated_string()
-
         self.module = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
             course_id=self.course.id,
@@ -3316,15 +3349,18 @@ class TestInstructorAPITaskLists(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch.object(instructor_task.api, 'get_instructor_task_history')
-class TestInstructorEmailContentList(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorEmailContentList(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test the instructor email content history endpoint.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorEmailContentList, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorEmailContentList, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
         self.tasks = {}
@@ -3500,10 +3536,30 @@ def get_extended_due(course, unit, user):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestDueDateExtensions(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestDueDateExtensions(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Test data dumps for reporting.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestDueDateExtensions, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.due = datetime.datetime(2010, 5, 12, 2, 42, tzinfo=utc)
+
+        with cls.store.bulk_operations(cls.course.id, emit_signals=False):
+            cls.week1 = ItemFactory.create(due=cls.due)
+            cls.week2 = ItemFactory.create(due=cls.due)
+            cls.week3 = ItemFactory.create()  # No due date
+            cls.course.children = [
+                cls.week1.location.to_deprecated_string(),
+                cls.week2.location.to_deprecated_string(),
+                cls.week3.location.to_deprecated_string()
+            ]
+            cls.homework = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent_location=cls.week1.location,
+                due=cls.due
+            )
+            cls.week1.children = [cls.homework.location.to_deprecated_string()]
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -3511,75 +3567,55 @@ class TestDueDateExtensions(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
         """
         super(TestDueDateExtensions, self).setUp()
 
-        due = datetime.datetime(2010, 5, 12, 2, 42, tzinfo=utc)
-        course = CourseFactory.create()
-        week1 = ItemFactory.create(due=due)
-        week2 = ItemFactory.create(due=due)
-        week3 = ItemFactory.create()  # No due date
-        course.children = [week1.location.to_deprecated_string(), week2.location.to_deprecated_string(),
-                           week3.location.to_deprecated_string()]
-
-        homework = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent_location=week1.location,
-            due=due
-        )
-        week1.children = [homework.location.to_deprecated_string()]
-
         user1 = UserFactory.create()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user1.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=week1.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.week1.location).save()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user1.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=week2.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.week2.location).save()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user1.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=week3.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.week3.location).save()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user1.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=homework.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.homework.location).save()
 
         user2 = UserFactory.create()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user2.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=week1.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.week1.location).save()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user2.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=homework.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.homework.location).save()
 
         user3 = UserFactory.create()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user3.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=week1.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.week1.location).save()
         StudentModule(
             state='{}',
             student_id=user3.id,
-            course_id=course.id,
-            module_state_key=homework.location).save()
+            course_id=self.course.id,
+            module_state_key=self.homework.location).save()
 
-        self.course = course
-        self.week1 = week1
-        self.homework = homework
-        self.week2 = week2
-        self.week3 = week3
         self.user1 = user1
         self.user2 = user2
-
-        self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=course.id)
+        self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
 
     def test_change_due_date(self):
@@ -3640,6 +3676,7 @@ class TestDueDateExtensions(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
         })
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 400, response.content)
 
+    @SharedModuleStoreTestCase.modifies_courseware
     def test_reset_extension_to_deleted_date(self):
         """
         Test that we can delete a due date extension after deleting the normal
@@ -3690,10 +3727,18 @@ class TestDueDateExtensions(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @override_settings(REGISTRATION_CODE_LENGTH=8)
-class TestCourseRegistrationCodes(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestCourseRegistrationCodes(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test data dumps for E-commerce Course Registration Codes.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestCourseRegistrationCodes, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.url = reverse(
+            'generate_registration_codes',
+            kwargs={'course_id': cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()}
+        )
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -3701,15 +3746,11 @@ class TestCourseRegistrationCodes(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         """
         super(TestCourseRegistrationCodes, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         CourseModeFactory.create(course_id=self.course.id, min_price=50)
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
         CourseSalesAdminRole(self.course.id).add_users(self.instructor)
 
-        url = reverse('generate_registration_codes',
-                      kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
-
         data = {
             'total_registration_codes': 12, 'company_name': 'Test Group', 'company_contact_name': 'Test@company.com',
             'company_contact_email': 'Test@company.com', 'unit_price': 122.45, 'recipient_name': 'Test123',
@@ -3718,7 +3759,7 @@ class TestCourseRegistrationCodes(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             'customer_reference_number': '123A23F', 'internal_reference': '', 'invoice': ''
         }
 
-        response = self.client.post(url, data, **{'HTTP_HOST': 'localhost'})
+        response = self.client.post(self.url, data, **{'HTTP_HOST': 'localhost'})
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, 200, response.content)
         for i in range(5):
             order = Order(user=self.instructor, status='purchased')
@@ -4148,13 +4189,17 @@ class TestCourseRegistrationCodes(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestBulkCohorting(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestBulkCohorting(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test adding users to cohorts in bulk via CSV upload.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestBulkCohorting, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestBulkCohorting, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.staff_user = StaffFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.non_staff_user = UserFactory.create()
         self.tempdir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api_email_localization.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api_email_localization.py
index d9fd87df93..ca0fd14ff7 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api_email_localization.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_api_email_localization.py
@@ -13,15 +13,19 @@ from student.models import CourseEnrollment
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.user_api.preferences.api import set_user_preference
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorAPIEnrollmentEmailLocalization(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorAPIEnrollmentEmailLocalization(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test whether the enroll, unenroll and beta role emails are sent in the
     proper language, i.e: the student's language.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorAPIEnrollmentEmailLocalization, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorAPIEnrollmentEmailLocalization, self).setUp()
@@ -29,7 +33,6 @@ class TestInstructorAPIEnrollmentEmailLocalization(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         # Platform language is English, instructor's language is Chinese,
         # student's language is French, so the emails should all be sent in
         # French.
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         set_user_preference(self.instructor, LANGUAGE_KEY, 'zh-cn')
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_certificates.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_certificates.py
index 7bf5b7fd3b..027c15671d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_certificates.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_certificates.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
 from django.conf import settings
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 from config_models.models import cache
 from courseware.tests.factories import GlobalStaffFactory, InstructorFactory, UserFactory
@@ -18,19 +18,23 @@ from certificates import api as certs_api
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @ddt.ddt
-class CertificatesInstructorDashTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class CertificatesInstructorDashTest(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Tests for the certificate panel of the instructor dash. """
 
     ERROR_REASON = "An error occurred!"
     DOWNLOAD_URL = "http://www.example.com/abcd123/cert.pdf"
 
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(CertificatesInstructorDashTest, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.url = reverse(
+            'instructor_dashboard',
+            kwargs={'course_id': unicode(cls.course.id)}
+        )
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(CertificatesInstructorDashTest, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-        self.url = reverse(
-            'instructor_dashboard',
-            kwargs={'course_id': unicode(self.course.id)}
-        )
         self.global_staff = GlobalStaffFactory()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
 
@@ -189,12 +193,15 @@ class CertificatesInstructorDashTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 @attr('shard_1')
 @override_settings(CERT_QUEUE='certificates')
 @ddt.ddt
-class CertificatesInstructorApiTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class CertificatesInstructorApiTest(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Tests for the certificates end-points in the instructor dash API. """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(CertificatesInstructorApiTest, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(CertificatesInstructorApiTest, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.global_staff = GlobalStaffFactory()
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
index 7fb4f895ac..4297d09cad 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_ecommerce.py
@@ -13,18 +13,26 @@ from course_modes.models import CourseMode
 from student.roles import CourseFinanceAdminRole
 from shoppingcart.models import Coupon, CourseRegistrationCode
 from student.tests.factories import AdminFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestECommerceDashboardViews(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestECommerceDashboardViews(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for E-commerce view on the new instructor dashboard
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestECommerceDashboardViews, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
+        # URL for instructor dash
+        cls.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
+        cls.e_commerce_link = '<a href="" data-section="e-commerce">E-Commerce</a>'
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestECommerceDashboardViews, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
         # Create instructor account
         self.instructor = AdminFactory.create()
@@ -34,9 +42,6 @@ class TestECommerceDashboardViews(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             mode_display_name='honor', min_price=10, currency='usd'
         )
         mode.save()
-        # URL for instructor dash
-        self.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
-        self.e_commerce_link = '<a href="" data-section="e-commerce">E-Commerce</a>'
         CourseFinanceAdminRole(self.course.id).add_users(self.instructor)
 
     def test_pass_e_commerce_tab_in_instructor_dashboard(self):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_email.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_email.py
index d18e9f403a..7f1bc0633f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_email.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_email.py
@@ -11,30 +11,36 @@ from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
 
 from bulk_email.models import CourseAuthorization
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import TEST_DATA_MIXED_TOY_MODULESTORE, ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import (
+    TEST_DATA_MIXED_TOY_MODULESTORE, SharedModuleStoreTestCase
+)
 from student.tests.factories import AdminFactory
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewMongoBacked(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewMongoBacked(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for email view on the new instructor dashboard
     for Mongo-backed courses
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewMongoBacked, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+
+        # URL for instructor dash
+        cls.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
+        # URL for email view
+        cls.email_link = '<a href="" data-section="send_email">Email</a>'
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewMongoBacked, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
         # Create instructor account
         instructor = AdminFactory.create()
         self.client.login(username=instructor.username, password="test")
 
-        # URL for instructor dash
-        self.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
-        # URL for email view
-        self.email_link = '<a href="" data-section="send_email">Email</a>'
-
     # In order for bulk email to work, we must have both the ENABLE_INSTRUCTOR_EMAIL_FLAG
     # set to True and for the course to be Mongo-backed.
     # The flag is enabled and the course is Mongo-backed (should work)
@@ -101,16 +107,25 @@ class TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewMongoBacked(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for email view on the new instructor dashboard
     """
 
     MODULESTORE = TEST_DATA_MIXED_TOY_MODULESTORE
 
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course_key = SlashSeparatedCourseKey('edX', 'toy', '2012_Fall')
+
+        # URL for instructor dash
+        cls.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': cls.course_key.to_deprecated_string()})
+        # URL for email view
+        cls.email_link = '<a href="" data-section="send_email">Email</a>'
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestNewInstructorDashboardEmailViewXMLBacked, self).setUp()
-        self.course_key = SlashSeparatedCourseKey('edX', 'toy', '2012_Fall')
 
         # Create instructor account
         instructor = AdminFactory.create()
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_enrollment.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_enrollment.py
index 1a6e3d268e..c20bc98777 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_enrollment.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_enrollment.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from opaque_keys.edx.locations import SlashSeparatedCourseKey
 
 from submissions import api as sub_api
 from student.models import anonymous_id_for_user
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
@@ -296,40 +296,40 @@ class TestInstructorUnenrollDB(TestEnrollmentChangeBase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestInstructorEnrollmentStudentModule(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestInstructorEnrollmentStudentModule(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """ Test student module manipulations. """
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestInstructorEnrollmentStudentModule, self).setUp()
-        store = modulestore()
-        self.user = UserFactory()
-        self.course = CourseFactory(
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorEnrollmentStudentModule, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory(
             name='fake',
             org='course',
             run='id',
         )
         # pylint: disable=no-member
-        self.course_key = self.course.location.course_key
-        self.parent = ItemFactory(
-            category="library_content",
-            user_id=self.user.id,
-            parent=self.course,
-            publish_item=True,
-            modulestore=store,
-        )
-        self.child = ItemFactory(
-            category="html",
-            user_id=self.user.id,
-            parent=self.parent,
-            publish_item=True,
-            modulestore=store,
-        )
-        self.unrelated = ItemFactory(
-            category="html",
-            user_id=self.user.id,
-            parent=self.course,
-            publish_item=True,
-            modulestore=store,
-        )
+        cls.course_key = cls.course.location.course_key
+        with cls.store.bulk_operations(cls.course.id, emit_signals=False):
+            cls.parent = ItemFactory(
+                category="library_content",
+                parent=cls.course,
+                publish_item=True,
+            )
+            cls.child = ItemFactory(
+                category="html",
+                parent=cls.parent,
+                publish_item=True,
+            )
+            cls.unrelated = ItemFactory(
+                category="html",
+                parent=cls.course,
+                publish_item=True,
+            )
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestInstructorEnrollmentStudentModule, self).setUp()
+
+        self.user = UserFactory()
+
         parent_state = json.dumps({'attempts': 32, 'otherstuff': 'alsorobots'})
         child_state = json.dumps({'attempts': 10, 'whatever': 'things'})
         unrelated_state = json.dumps({'attempts': 12, 'brains': 'zombie'})
@@ -567,26 +567,27 @@ class TestSendBetaRoleEmail(TestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestGetEmailParams(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestGetEmailParams(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test what URLs the function get_email_params returns under different
     production-like conditions.
     """
-    def setUp(self):
-        super(TestGetEmailParams, self).setUp()
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestGetEmailParams, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
         # Explicitly construct what we expect the course URLs to be
         site = settings.SITE_NAME
-        self.course_url = u'https://{}/courses/{}/'.format(
-            site,
-            self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()
-        )
-        self.course_about_url = self.course_url + 'about'
-        self.registration_url = u'https://{}/register'.format(
+        cls.course_url = u'https://{}/courses/{}/'.format(
             site,
+            cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()
         )
+        cls.course_about_url = cls.course_url + 'about'
+        cls.registration_url = u'https://{}/register'.format(site)
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestGetEmailParams, self).setUp()
 
     def test_normal_params(self):
         # For a normal site, what do we expect to get for the URLs?
@@ -612,16 +613,19 @@ class TestGetEmailParams(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestRenderMessageToString(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestRenderMessageToString(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test that email templates can be rendered in a language chosen manually.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestRenderMessageToString, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.subject_template = 'emails/enroll_email_allowedsubject.txt'
+        cls.message_template = 'emails/enroll_email_allowedmessage.txt'
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestRenderMessageToString, self).setUp()
-        self.subject_template = 'emails/enroll_email_allowedsubject.txt'
-        self.message_template = 'emails/enroll_email_allowedmessage.txt'
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def get_email_params(self):
         """
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_hint_manager.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_hint_manager.py
index 5ce0e7e325..39e9dbc06c 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_hint_manager.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_hint_manager.py
@@ -8,14 +8,21 @@ from courseware.models import XModuleUserStateSummaryField
 from courseware.tests.factories import UserStateSummaryFactory
 import instructor.hint_manager as view
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 # pylint: disable=missing-docstring
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class HintManagerTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class HintManagerTest(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(HintManagerTest, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create(org='Me', number='19.002', display_name='test_course')
+        cls.url = '/courses/Me/19.002/test_course/hint_manager'
+        cls.course_id = cls.course.id
+        cls.problem_id = cls.course_id.make_usage_key('crowdsource_hinter', 'crowdsource_hinter_001')
 
     def setUp(self):
         """
@@ -24,13 +31,9 @@ class HintManagerTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         """
         super(HintManagerTest, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create(org='Me', number='19.002', display_name='test_course')
-        self.url = '/courses/Me/19.002/test_course/hint_manager'
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username='robot', email='robot@edx.org', password='test', is_staff=True)
         self.c = Client()
         self.c.login(username='robot', password='test')
-        self.course_id = self.course.id
-        self.problem_id = self.course_id.make_usage_key('crowdsource_hinter', 'crowdsource_hinter_001')
         UserStateSummaryFactory.create(
             field_name='hints',
             usage_id=self.problem_id,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_enrollment.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_enrollment.py
index 314185bcdd..e7ed19ae73 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_enrollment.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_enrollment.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from courseware.tests.helpers import LoginEnrollmentTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseEnrollmentFactory, AdminFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from student.models import CourseEnrollment, CourseEnrollmentAllowed
 from instructor.views.legacy import get_and_clean_student_list, send_mail_to_student
 from django.core import mail
@@ -22,10 +22,14 @@ USER_COUNT = 4
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @ddt.ddt
-class TestInstructorEnrollsStudent(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
+class TestInstructorEnrollsStudent(SharedModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase):
     """
     Check Enrollment/Unenrollment with/without auto-enrollment on activation and with/without email notification
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestInstructorEnrollsStudent, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestInstructorEnrollsStudent, self).setUp()
@@ -33,8 +37,6 @@ class TestInstructorEnrollsStudent(ModuleStoreTestCase, LoginEnrollmentTestCase)
         instructor = AdminFactory.create()
         self.client.login(username=instructor.username, password='test')
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-
         self.users = [
             UserFactory.create(username="student%d" % i, email="student%d@test.com" % i)
             for i in xrange(USER_COUNT)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_xss.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_xss.py
index ff541ff69c..919c512dcd 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_xss.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_legacy_xss.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseEnrollmentFactory
 from edxmako.tests import mako_middleware_process_request
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 from instructor.views import legacy
@@ -18,12 +18,16 @@ from instructor.views import legacy
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestXss(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestXss(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestXss, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls._course = CourseFactory.create()
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestXss, self).setUp()
 
         self._request_factory = RequestFactory()
-        self._course = CourseFactory.create()
         self._evil_student = UserFactory.create(
             email="robot+evil@edx.org",
             username="evil-robot",
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_proctoring.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_proctoring.py
index 7bac68a0ee..12bc0eb257 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_proctoring.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_proctoring.py
@@ -10,29 +10,32 @@ from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 
 from student.roles import CourseFinanceAdminRole
 from student.tests.factories import AdminFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'ENABLE_PROCTORED_EXAMS': True})
-class TestProctoringDashboardViews(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestProctoringDashboardViews(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Check for Proctoring view on the new instructor dashboard
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestProctoringDashboardViews, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create(enable_proctored_exams=True)
+
+        # URL for instructor dash
+        cls.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': cls.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
+        cls.proctoring_link = '<a href="" data-section="proctoring">Proctoring</a>'
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestProctoringDashboardViews, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
-        self.course.enable_proctored_exams = True
 
         # Create instructor account
         self.instructor = AdminFactory.create()
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password="test")
-        self.course = self.update_course(self.course, self.instructor.id)
 
-        # URL for instructor dash
-        self.url = reverse('instructor_dashboard', kwargs={'course_id': self.course.id.to_deprecated_string()})
-        self.proctoring_link = '<a href="" data-section="proctoring">Proctoring</a>'
         CourseFinanceAdminRole(self.course.id).add_users(self.instructor)
 
     def test_pass_proctoring_tab_in_instructor_dashboard(self):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_registration_codes.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_registration_codes.py
index 2812fdfd9c..30cc2fbb7a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_registration_codes.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_registration_codes.py
@@ -15,19 +15,22 @@ import json
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseModeFactory
 from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from django.test.utils import override_settings
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
 @override_settings(REGISTRATION_CODE_LENGTH=8)
-class TestCourseRegistrationCodeStatus(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestCourseRegistrationCodeStatus(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test registration code status.
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestCourseRegistrationCodeStatus, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestCourseRegistrationCodeStatus, self).setUp()
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         CourseModeFactory.create(course_id=self.course.id, min_price=50)
         self.instructor = InstructorFactory(course_key=self.course.id)
         self.client.login(username=self.instructor.username, password='test')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_services.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_services.py
index 9137a9cee7..aaaae3ec36 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_services.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_services.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Tests for the InstructorService
 """
 
 import json
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 from courseware.models import StudentModule
 from instructor.services import InstructorService
@@ -15,31 +15,31 @@ from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class InstructorServiceTests(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class InstructorServiceTests(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Tests for the InstructorService
     """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(InstructorServiceTests, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        cls.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
+            cls.course.id,
+            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
+        )
+        cls.other_problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
+            cls.course.id,
+            'robot-some-other_problem-urlname'
+        )
+        cls.problem_urlname = unicode(cls.problem_location)
+        cls.other_problem_urlname = unicode(cls.other_problem_location)
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(InstructorServiceTests, self).setUp()
 
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.student = UserFactory()
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(self.student, self.course.id)
 
-        self.problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
-            self.course.id,
-            'robot-some-problem-urlname'
-        )
-
-        self.other_problem_location = msk_from_problem_urlname(
-            self.course.id,
-            'robot-some-other_problem-urlname'
-        )
-
-        self.problem_urlname = unicode(self.problem_location)
-        self.other_problem_urlname = unicode(self.other_problem_location)
-
         self.service = InstructorService()
         self.module_to_reset = StudentModule.objects.create(
             student=self.student,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_spoc_gradebook.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_spoc_gradebook.py
index 2e0ca99a73..8da7e4d835 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_spoc_gradebook.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_spoc_gradebook.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory, ItemFactory
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory, CourseEnrollmentFactory, AdminFactory
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from capa.tests.response_xml_factory import StringResponseXMLFactory
 from courseware.tests.factories import StudentModuleFactory
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ USER_COUNT = 11
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestGradebook(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestGradebook(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test functionality of the spoc gradebook. Sets up a course with assignments and
     students who've scored various scores on these assignments. Base class for further
@@ -24,45 +24,48 @@ class TestGradebook(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     grading_policy = None
 
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestGradebook, cls).setUpClass()
+
+        # Create a course with the desired grading policy (from our class attribute)
+        kwargs = {}
+        if cls.grading_policy is not None:
+            kwargs['grading_policy'] = cls.grading_policy
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create(**kwargs)
+
+        # Now give it some content
+        with cls.store.bulk_operations(cls.course.id, emit_signals=False):
+            chapter = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent_location=cls.course.location,
+                category="sequential",
+            )
+            section = ItemFactory.create(
+                parent_location=chapter.location,
+                category="sequential",
+                metadata={'graded': True, 'format': 'Homework'}
+            )
+            cls.items = [
+                ItemFactory.create(
+                    parent_location=section.location,
+                    category="problem",
+                    data=StringResponseXMLFactory().build_xml(answer='foo'),
+                    metadata={'rerandomize': 'always'}
+                )
+                for __ in xrange(USER_COUNT - 1)
+            ]
+
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestGradebook, self).setUp()
 
         instructor = AdminFactory.create()
         self.client.login(username=instructor.username, password='test')
-
-        # remove the caches
-        modulestore().request_cache = None
-        modulestore().metadata_inheritance_cache_subsystem = None
-
-        kwargs = {}
-        if self.grading_policy is not None:
-            kwargs['grading_policy'] = self.grading_policy
-
-        self.course = CourseFactory.create(**kwargs)
-        chapter = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent_location=self.course.location,
-            category="sequential",
-        )
-        section = ItemFactory.create(
-            parent_location=chapter.location,
-            category="sequential",
-            metadata={'graded': True, 'format': 'Homework'}
-        )
-
         self.users = [UserFactory.create() for _ in xrange(USER_COUNT)]
 
         for user in self.users:
             CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=user, course_id=self.course.id)
 
-        for i in xrange(USER_COUNT - 1):
-            category = "problem"
-            item = ItemFactory.create(
-                parent_location=section.location,
-                category=category,
-                data=StringResponseXMLFactory().build_xml(answer='foo'),
-                metadata={'rerandomize': 'always'}
-            )
-
+        for i, item in enumerate(self.items):
             for j, user in enumerate(self.users):
                 StudentModuleFactory.create(
                     grade=1 if i < j else 0,
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_tools.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_tools.py
index 5378aa5330..54068d4ce2 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_tools.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/tests/test_tools.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
 from courseware.field_overrides import OverrideFieldData  # pylint: disable=import-error
 from student.tests.factories import UserFactory  # pylint: disable=import-error
 from xmodule.fields import Date
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase, SharedModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory, ItemFactory
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 
@@ -102,23 +102,17 @@ class TestParseDatetime(unittest.TestCase):
 
 
 @attr('shard_1')
-class TestFindUnit(ModuleStoreTestCase):
+class TestFindUnit(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Test the find_unit function.
     """
-
-    def setUp(self):
-        """
-        Fixtures.
-        """
-        super(TestFindUnit, self).setUp()
-
-        course = CourseFactory.create()
-        week1 = ItemFactory.create(parent=course)
-        homework = ItemFactory.create(parent=week1)
-
-        self.course = course
-        self.homework = homework
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestFindUnit, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = CourseFactory.create()
+        with cls.store.bulk_operations(cls.course.id, emit_signals=False):
+            week1 = ItemFactory.create(parent=cls.course)
+            cls.homework = ItemFactory.create(parent=week1)
 
     def test_find_unit_success(self):
         """