diff --git a/cms/envs/common.py b/cms/envs/common.py
index bdb3ec6fde..003e29743b 100644
--- a/cms/envs/common.py
+++ b/cms/envs/common.py
@@ -244,6 +244,7 @@ PIPELINE_JS = {
             rooted_glob(COMMON_ROOT / 'static/', 'coffee/src/**/*.js') +
             rooted_glob(PROJECT_ROOT / 'static/', 'coffee/src/**/*.js')
         ) + ['js/hesitate.js', 'js/base.js', 'js/views/feedback.js',
+             'js/models/course.js',
              'js/models/section.js', 'js/views/section.js',
              'js/models/metadata_model.js', 'js/views/metadata_editor_view.js',
              'js/models/textbook.js', 'js/views/textbook.js',
diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/course_spec.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/course_spec.coffee
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..07fe6930f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/spec/models/course_spec.coffee
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+describe "CMS.Models.Course", ->
+    describe "basic", ->
+        beforeEach ->
+            @model = new CMS.Models.Course({
+                name: "Greek Hero"
+            })
+
+        it "should take a name argument", ->
+            expect(@model.get("name")).toEqual("Greek Hero")
diff --git a/cms/static/js/models/course.js b/cms/static/js/models/course.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4f2325e94c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cms/static/js/models/course.js
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+CMS.Models.Course = Backbone.Model.extend({
+    defaults: {
+        "name": ""
+    },
+    validate: function(attrs, options) {
+        if (!attrs.name) {
+            return gettext("You must specify a name");
+        }
+    }
+});
diff --git a/cms/templates/base.html b/cms/templates/base.html
index 44ebf59170..b53dc2657d 100644
--- a/cms/templates/base.html
+++ b/cms/templates/base.html
@@ -58,6 +58,18 @@
     <script type="text/javascript" src="//www.youtube.com/player_api"></script>
 
     <script src="${static.url('js/views/feedback.js')}"></script>
+    % if context_course:
+    <script type="text/javascript">
+window.course = new CMS.Models.Course({
+  id: "${context_course.id}",
+  name: "${context_course.display_name_with_default | h}",
+  url_name: "${context_course.location.name | h}",
+  org: "${context_course.location.org | h}",
+  num: "${context_course.location.course | h}",
+  revision: "${context_course.location.revision | h}"
+});
+    </script>
+    % endif
 
     <!-- view -->
     <div class="wrapper wrapper-view">
diff --git a/cms/templates/manage_users.html b/cms/templates/manage_users.html
index 9013d98452..0f14174d1c 100644
--- a/cms/templates/manage_users.html
+++ b/cms/templates/manage_users.html
@@ -162,14 +162,6 @@
 
 <%block name="jsextra">
 <script type="text/javascript">
-  window.section = new CMS.Models.Section({
-    id: "${context_course.id}",
-    name: "${context_course.display_name_with_default | h}",
-    url_name: "${context_course.location.name | h}",
-    org: "${context_course.location.org | h}",
-    num: "${context_course.location.course | h}",
-    revision: "${context_course.location.revision | h}"
-  });
   var staffEmails = ${json.dumps([user.email for user in staff])};
   var tplUserURL = "${reverse('course_team_user', kwargs=dict(
       org=context_course.location.org,
@@ -204,7 +196,7 @@
       if(_.contains(staffEmails, email)) {
         var msg = new CMS.Views.Prompt.Warning({
           title: gettext("Already a course team member"),
-          message: _.template(gettext("{email} is already on the {course} team. If you're trying to add a new member, please double-check the email address you provided."), {email: email, course: section.get('name')}, {interpolate: /\{(.+?)\}/g}),
+          message: _.template(gettext("{email} is already on the {course} team. If you're trying to add a new member, please double-check the email address you provided."), {email: email, course: course.escape('name')}, {interpolate: /\{(.+?)\}/g}),
           actions: {
             primary: {
               text: gettext("Return to team listing"),
@@ -281,7 +273,7 @@
       var email = $(this).data('id');
       var msg = new CMS.Views.Prompt.Warning({
         title: gettext("Are you sure?"),
-        message: _.template(gettext("Are you sure you want to delete {email} from the course team for {course}?"), {email: email, course: section.get('name')}, {interpolate: /\{(.+?)\}/g}),
+        message: _.template(gettext("Are you sure you want to delete {email} from the course team for {course}?"), {email: email, course: course.get('name')}, {interpolate: /\{(.+?)\}/g}),
         actions: {
           primary: {
             text: gettext("Delete"),