diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/utils.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/utils.py
index b14dd8b353..cf0c281dd4 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/utils.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/utils.py
@@ -75,12 +75,15 @@ def get_course_for_item(location):
     return courses[0]
 
 
-def get_lms_link_for_item(location, preview=False):
+def get_lms_link_for_item(location, preview=False, course_id=None):
+    if course_id is None:
+        course_id = get_course_id(location)
+
     if settings.LMS_BASE is not None:
         lms_link = "//{preview}{lms_base}/courses/{course_id}/jump_to/{location}".format(
             preview='preview.' if preview else '',
             lms_base=settings.LMS_BASE,
-            course_id=get_course_id(location),
+            course_id= course_id,
             location=Location(location)
         )
     else:
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
index 639f2258e0..b55dc13e58 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def index(request):
     """
     List all courses available to the logged in user
     """
-    courses = modulestore().get_items(['i4x', None, None, 'course', None])
+    courses = modulestore('direct').get_items(['i4x', None, None, 'course', None])
 
     # filter out courses that we don't have access too
     def course_filter(course):
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ def index(request):
                         course.location.org,
                         course.location.course,
                         course.location.name]),
-                    get_lms_link_for_item(course.location))
+                    get_lms_link_for_item(course.location, course_id=course.location.course_id))
                     for course in courses],
         'user': request.user,
         'disable_course_creation': settings.MITX_FEATURES.get('DISABLE_COURSE_CREATION', False) and not request.user.is_staff
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo.py
index 012efb0c27..8068129559 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/mongo.py
@@ -157,10 +157,15 @@ class MongoModuleStore(ModuleStoreBase):
         '''
         
         # get all collections in the course, this query should not return any leaf nodes
-        query = { '_id.org' : location.org,
-                '_id.course' : location.course,
-                '_id.revision' : None,
-                'definition.children':{'$ne': []}
+        query = { 
+                    '_id.org': location.org,
+                    '_id.course': location.course,
+                    '$or': [ 
+                    {"_id.category":"course"}, 
+                    {"_id.category":"chapter"},    
+                    {"_id.category":"sequential"},    
+                    {"_id.category":"vertical"}   
+                ]
                 }
         # we just want the Location, children, and metadata
         record_filter = {'_id':1,'definition.children':1,'metadata':1}
@@ -279,6 +284,13 @@ class MongoModuleStore(ModuleStoreBase):
 
         resource_fs = OSFS(root)
 
+        metadata_inheritance_tree = None
+
+        # if we are loading a course object, there is no parent to inherit the metadata from
+        # so don't bother getting it
+        if item['location']['category'] != 'course':
+            metadata_inheritance_tree = self.get_cached_metadata_inheritance_tree(Location(item['location']), 300)
+
         # TODO (cdodge): When the 'split module store' work has been completed, we should remove
         # the 'metadata_inheritance_tree' parameter
         system = CachingDescriptorSystem(
@@ -288,7 +300,7 @@ class MongoModuleStore(ModuleStoreBase):
             resource_fs,
             self.error_tracker,
             self.render_template,
-            metadata_inheritance_tree = self.get_cached_metadata_inheritance_tree(Location(item['location']), 60)
+            metadata_inheritance_tree = metadata_inheritance_tree
         )
         return system.load_item(item['location'])