diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/migrations/0007_add_description.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/migrations/0007_add_description.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2828d2ad9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/migrations/0007_add_description.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import datetime
+from south.db import db
+from south.v2 import SchemaMigration
+from django.db import models
+
+
+class Migration(SchemaMigration):
+
+    def forwards(self, orm):
+        # Adding field 'CourseMode.description'
+        db.add_column('course_modes_coursemode', 'description',
+                      self.gf('django.db.models.fields.TextField')(null=True, blank=True),
+                      keep_default=False)
+
+
+        # Changing field 'CourseMode.course_id'
+        db.alter_column('course_modes_coursemode', 'course_id', self.gf('xmodule_django.models.CourseKeyField')(max_length=255))
+
+    def backwards(self, orm):
+        # Deleting field 'CourseMode.description'
+        db.delete_column('course_modes_coursemode', 'description')
+
+
+        # Changing field 'CourseMode.course_id'
+        db.alter_column('course_modes_coursemode', 'course_id', self.gf('django.db.models.fields.CharField')(max_length=255))
+
+    models = {
+        'course_modes.coursemode': {
+            'Meta': {'unique_together': "(('course_id', 'mode_slug', 'currency'),)", 'object_name': 'CourseMode'},
+            'course_id': ('xmodule_django.models.CourseKeyField', [], {'max_length': '255', 'db_index': 'True'}),
+            'currency': ('django.db.models.fields.CharField', [], {'default': "'usd'", 'max_length': '8'}),
+            'description': ('django.db.models.fields.TextField', [], {'null': 'True', 'blank': 'True'}),
+            'expiration_date': ('django.db.models.fields.DateField', [], {'default': 'None', 'null': 'True', 'blank': 'True'}),
+            'expiration_datetime': ('django.db.models.fields.DateTimeField', [], {'default': 'None', 'null': 'True', 'blank': 'True'}),
+            'id': ('django.db.models.fields.AutoField', [], {'primary_key': 'True'}),
+            'min_price': ('django.db.models.fields.IntegerField', [], {'default': '0'}),
+            'mode_display_name': ('django.db.models.fields.CharField', [], {'max_length': '255'}),
+            'mode_slug': ('django.db.models.fields.CharField', [], {'max_length': '100'}),
+            'suggested_prices': ('django.db.models.fields.CommaSeparatedIntegerField', [], {'default': "''", 'max_length': '255', 'blank': 'True'})
+        }
+    }
+
+    complete_apps = ['course_modes']
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/models.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/models.py
index abba0e1556..987e4cd5f6 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/models.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/models.py
@@ -11,7 +11,17 @@ from django.db.models import Q
 
 from xmodule_django.models import CourseKeyField
 
-Mode = namedtuple('Mode', ['slug', 'name', 'min_price', 'suggested_prices', 'currency', 'expiration_datetime'])
+Mode = namedtuple('Mode',
+                  [
+                      'slug',
+                      'name',
+                      'min_price',
+                      'suggested_prices',
+                      'currency',
+                      'expiration_datetime',
+                      'description'
+                  ])
+
 
 class CourseMode(models.Model):
     """
@@ -42,7 +52,11 @@ class CourseMode(models.Model):
 
     expiration_datetime = models.DateTimeField(default=None, null=True, blank=True)
 
-    DEFAULT_MODE = Mode('honor', _('Honor Code Certificate'), 0, '', 'usd', None)
+    # optional description override
+    # WARNING: will not be localized
+    description = models.TextField(null=True, blank=True)
+
+    DEFAULT_MODE = Mode('honor', _('Honor Code Certificate'), 0, '', 'usd', None, None)
     DEFAULT_MODE_SLUG = 'honor'
 
     class Meta:
@@ -66,7 +80,8 @@ class CourseMode(models.Model):
             mode.min_price,
             mode.suggested_prices,
             mode.currency,
-            mode.expiration_datetime
+            mode.expiration_datetime,
+            mode.description
         ) for mode in found_course_modes])
         if not modes:
             modes = [cls.DEFAULT_MODE]
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_models.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_models.py
index 7e47a3645d..933faf8c66 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_models.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class CourseModeModelTest(TestCase):
 
         self.create_mode('verified', 'Verified Certificate')
         modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course(self.course_key)
-        mode = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None)
+        mode = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None, None)
         self.assertEqual([mode], modes)
 
         modes_dict = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(self.course_key)
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ class CourseModeModelTest(TestCase):
         """
         Finding the modes when there's multiple modes
         """
-        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None)
-        mode2 = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None)
+        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None, None)
+        mode2 = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None, None)
         set_modes = [mode1, mode2]
         for mode in set_modes:
             self.create_mode(mode.slug, mode.name, mode.min_price, mode.suggested_prices)
@@ -82,9 +82,9 @@ class CourseModeModelTest(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(0, CourseMode.min_course_price_for_currency(self.course_key, 'usd'))
 
         # create some modes
-        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 10, '', 'usd', None)
-        mode2 = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 20, '', 'usd', None)
-        mode3 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 80, '', 'cny', None)
+        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 10, '', 'usd', None, None)
+        mode2 = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 20, '', 'usd', None, None)
+        mode3 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 80, '', 'cny', None, None)
         set_modes = [mode1, mode2, mode3]
         for mode in set_modes:
             self.create_mode(mode.slug, mode.name, mode.min_price, mode.suggested_prices, mode.currency)
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class CourseModeModelTest(TestCase):
         modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course(self.course_key)
         self.assertEqual([CourseMode.DEFAULT_MODE], modes)
 
-        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None)
+        mode1 = Mode(u'honor', u'Honor Code Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', None, None)
         self.create_mode(mode1.slug, mode1.name, mode1.min_price, mode1.suggested_prices)
         modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course(self.course_key)
         self.assertEqual([mode1], modes)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class CourseModeModelTest(TestCase):
         expiration_datetime = datetime.now(pytz.UTC) + timedelta(days=1)
         expired_mode.expiration_datetime = expiration_datetime
         expired_mode.save()
-        expired_mode_value = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', expiration_datetime)
+        expired_mode_value = Mode(u'verified', u'Verified Certificate', 0, '', 'usd', expiration_datetime, None)
         modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course(self.course_key)
         self.assertEqual([expired_mode_value, mode1], modes)
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
index f7faaeb60d..83c12ab69f 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/views.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
             "chosen_price": chosen_price,
             "error": error,
             "upgrade": upgrade,
+            "can_audit": "audit" in modes,
         }
         if "verified" in modes:
             context["suggested_prices"] = [
@@ -69,6 +70,8 @@ class ChooseModeView(View):
             ]
             context["currency"] = modes["verified"].currency.upper()
             context["min_price"] = modes["verified"].min_price
+            context["verified_name"] = modes["verified"].name
+            context["verified_description"] = modes["verified"].description
 
         return render_to_response("course_modes/choose.html", context)
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
index edcf9278ce..2d41314170 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/views.py
@@ -632,10 +632,16 @@ def change_enrollment(request):
         available_modes = CourseMode.modes_for_course(course_id)
         if len(available_modes) > 1:
             return HttpResponse(
-                reverse("course_modes_choose", kwargs={'course_id': course_id.to_deprecated_string()})
+                reverse("course_modes_choose", kwargs={'course_id': unicode(course_id)})
             )
 
         current_mode = available_modes[0]
+        # only automatically enroll people if the only mode is 'honor'
+        if current_mode.slug != 'honor':
+            return HttpResponse(
+                reverse("course_modes_choose", kwargs={'course_id': unicode(course_id)})
+            )
+
         CourseEnrollment.enroll(user, course.id, mode=current_mode.slug)
 
         return HttpResponse()
diff --git a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
index 7ef605f5eb..e608e7ae59 100644
--- a/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
+++ b/common/templates/course_modes/choose.html
@@ -66,17 +66,27 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
           <div class="register-choice register-choice-certificate">
             <div class="wrapper-copy">
               <span class="deco-ribbon"></span>
-              <h4 class="title">${_("Certificate of Achievement (ID Verified)")}</h4>
-
-              %if upgrade:
-                <div class="copy">
-                  <p>${_("Upgrade and work toward a verified Certificate of Achievement.")}</p>
-                </div>
+              %if verified_name == "Verified Certificate":
+                <h4 class="title">${_("Certificate of Achievement (ID Verified)")}</h4>
               %else:
-                <div class="copy">
-                  <p>${_("Sign up and work toward a verified Certificate of Achievement.")}</p>
-                </div>
+                <h4 class="title">${verified_name}</h4>
               %endif
+
+              %if verified_name == "Verified Certificate":
+                %if upgrade:
+                    <div class="copy">
+                    <p>${_("Upgrade and work toward a verified Certificate of Achievement.")}</p>
+                    </div>
+                %else:
+                    <div class="copy">
+                    <p>${_("Sign up and work toward a verified Certificate of Achievement.")}</p>
+                    </div>
+                %endif
+              %else:
+                    <div class="copy">
+                    <p>${verified_description}</p>
+                    </div>
+               %endif
             </div>
 
             <div class="field field-certificate-contribution">
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
index 015e4b4e22..7019163cc3 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/views.py
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ class VerifyView(View):
             # bookkeeping-wise just to start over.
             progress_state = "start"
 
-        verify_mode = CourseMode.mode_for_course(course_id, "verified")
+        modes_dict = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(course_id)
+        verify_mode = modes_dict.get('verified', None)
         # if the course doesn't have a verified mode, we want to kick them
         # from the flow
         if not verify_mode:
@@ -102,6 +103,7 @@ class VerifyView(View):
             "chosen_price": chosen_price,
             "min_price": verify_mode.min_price,
             "upgrade": upgrade,
+            "can_audit": "audit" in modes_dict,
         }
 
         return render_to_response('verify_student/photo_verification.html', context)
@@ -121,7 +123,9 @@ class VerifiedView(View):
         course_id = SlashSeparatedCourseKey.from_deprecated_string(course_id)
         if CourseEnrollment.enrollment_mode_for_user(request.user, course_id) == ('verified', True):
             return redirect(reverse('dashboard'))
-        verify_mode = CourseMode.mode_for_course(course_id, "verified")
+
+        modes_dict = CourseMode.modes_for_course_dict(course_id)
+        verify_mode = modes_dict.get('verified', None)
 
         if verify_mode is None:
             return redirect(reverse('dashboard'))
@@ -146,6 +150,7 @@ class VerifiedView(View):
             "chosen_price": chosen_price,
             "create_order_url": reverse("verify_student_create_order"),
             "upgrade": upgrade,
+            "can_audit": "audit" in modes_dict,
         }
         return render_to_response('verify_student/verified.html', context)
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/verify_student/_verification_support.html b/lms/templates/verify_student/_verification_support.html
index b7263603ae..de54e63346 100644
--- a/lms/templates/verify_student/_verification_support.html
+++ b/lms/templates/verify_student/_verification_support.html
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
         </div>
       </li>
 
+      %if can_audit:
       <li class="help-item help-item-coldfeet">
         %if upgrade:
           <h3 class="title">${_("Change your mind?")}</h3>
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@
           </div>
         %endif
       </li>
+      %endif
 
       <li class="help-item help-item-technical">
         <h3 class="title">${_("Technical Requirements")}</h3>
diff --git a/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html b/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
index 97b89ba07f..c88c5f0b7a 100644
--- a/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
+++ b/lms/templates/verify_student/show_requirements.html
@@ -156,11 +156,13 @@
 
         <nav class="nav-wizard ${"is-not-ready" if is_not_active else "is-ready"}">
 
+        %if can_audit:
           %if upgrade:
             <span class="help help-inline">${_("Missing something? You can always continue to audit this course instead.")}</span>
           %else:
             <span class="help help-inline">${_("Missing something? You can always {a_start}audit this course instead{a_end}").format(a_start='<a href="{}">'.format(course_modes_choose_url), a_end="</a>")}</span>
           %endif
+        %endif
 
           <ol class="wizard-steps">
             <li class="wizard-step">