diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
index 7350c0364d..1519cf50d7 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
@@ -187,17 +187,17 @@ class ToyCourseFactory(SampleCourseFactory):
         """
         store = kwargs.get('modulestore')
         user_id = kwargs.get('user_id', ModuleStoreEnum.UserID.test)
-        toy_course = super(ToyCourseFactory, cls)._create(
-            target_class,
-            block_info_tree=TOY_BLOCK_INFO_TREE,
-            textbooks=[["Textbook", "path/to/a/text_book"]],
-            wiki_slug="toy",
-            graded=True,
-            discussion_topics={"General": {"id": "i4x-edX-toy-course-2012_Fall"}},
-            graceperiod=datetime.timedelta(days=2, seconds=21599),
-            start=datetime.datetime(2015, 07, 17, 12, tzinfo=pytz.utc),
-            xml_attributes={"filename": ["course/2012_Fall.xml", "course/2012_Fall.xml"]},
-            pdf_textbooks=[
+
+        fields = {
+            'block_info_tree': TOY_BLOCK_INFO_TREE,
+            'textbooks': [["Textbook", "path/to/a/text_book"]],
+            'wiki_slug': "toy",
+            'graded': True,
+            'discussion_topics': {"General": {"id": "i4x-edX-toy-course-2012_Fall"}},
+            'graceperiod': datetime.timedelta(days=2, seconds=21599),
+            'start': datetime.datetime(2015, 07, 17, 12, tzinfo=pytz.utc),
+            'xml_attributes': {"filename": ["course/2012_Fall.xml", "course/2012_Fall.xml"]},
+            'pdf_textbooks': [
                 {
                     "tab_title": "Sample Multi Chapter Textbook",
                     "id": "MyTextbook",
@@ -207,8 +207,13 @@ class ToyCourseFactory(SampleCourseFactory):
                     ]
                 }
             ],
-            course_image="just_a_test.jpg",
-            **kwargs
+            'course_image': "just_a_test.jpg",
+        }
+        fields.update(kwargs)
+
+        toy_course = super(ToyCourseFactory, cls)._create(
+            target_class,
+            **fields
         )
         with store.bulk_operations(toy_course.id, emit_signals=False):
             with store.branch_setting(ModuleStoreEnum.Branch.draft_preferred, toy_course.id):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6089b2f1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+"""
+Course API
+"""
+
+from django.contrib.auth.models import User
+from django.http import Http404
+from rest_framework.exceptions import NotFound, PermissionDenied
+
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.courses import get_courses, get_course_with_access
+
+from .permissions import can_view_courses_for_username
+from .serializers import CourseSerializer
+
+
+def get_effective_user(requesting_user, target_username):
+    """
+    Get the user we want to view information on behalf of.
+    """
+    if target_username == requesting_user.username:
+        return requesting_user
+    elif can_view_courses_for_username(requesting_user, target_username):
+        return User.objects.get(username=target_username)
+    else:
+        raise PermissionDenied()
+
+
+def course_detail(request, username, course_key):
+    """
+    Return a single course identified by `course_key`.
+
+    The course must be visible to the user identified by `username` and the
+    logged-in user should have permission to view courses available to that
+    user.
+
+    Arguments:
+        request (HTTPRequest):
+            Used to identify the logged-in user and to instantiate the course
+            module to retrieve the course about description
+        username (string):
+            The name of the user `requesting_user would like to be identified as.
+        course_key (CourseKey): Identifies the course of interest
+
+    Return value:
+        CourseSerializer object representing the requested course
+    """
+    user = get_effective_user(request.user, username)
+    try:
+        course = get_course_with_access(user, 'see_exists', course_key)
+    except Http404:
+        raise NotFound()
+    return CourseSerializer(course, context={'request': request}).data
+
+
+def list_courses(request, username):
+    """
+    Return a list of available courses.
+
+    The courses returned are all be visible to the user identified by
+    `username` and the logged in user should have permission to view courses
+    available to that user.
+
+    Arguments:
+        request (HTTPRequest):
+            Used to identify the logged-in user and to instantiate the course
+            module to retrieve the course about description
+        username (string):
+            The name of the user the logged-in user would like to be
+            identified as
+
+
+    Return value:
+        A CourseSerializer object representing the collection of courses.
+    """
+    user = get_effective_user(request.user, username)
+    courses = get_courses(user)
+    return CourseSerializer(courses, context={'request': request}, many=True).data
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/permissions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..24356da4e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/permissions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+"""
+Course API Authorization functions
+"""
+
+from student.roles import GlobalStaff
+
+
+def can_view_courses_for_username(requesting_user, target_username):
+    """
+    Determine whether `requesting_user` has permission to view courses available
+    to the user identified by `target_username`.
+
+    Arguments:
+        requesting_user (User): The user requesting permission to view another
+        target_username (string):
+            The name of the user `requesting_user` would like
+            to access.
+
+    Return value:
+        Boolean:
+            `True` if `requesting_user` is authorized to view courses as
+            `target_username`.  Otherwise, `False`
+    Raises:
+        TypeError if target_username is empty or None.
+    """
+
+    # AnonymousUser has no username, so we test for requesting_user's own
+    # username before prohibiting an empty target_username.
+    if requesting_user.username == target_username:
+        return True
+    elif not target_username:
+        raise TypeError("target_username must be specified")
+    else:
+        staff = GlobalStaff()
+        return staff.has_user(requesting_user)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/serializers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1114b0f6bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/serializers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+"""
+Course API Serializers.  Representing course catalog data
+"""
+
+import urllib
+
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.template import defaultfilters
+
+from rest_framework import serializers
+
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.courses import course_image_url, get_course_about_section
+from xmodule.course_module import DEFAULT_START_DATE
+
+
+class _MediaSerializer(serializers.Serializer):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """
+    Nested serializer to represent a media object.
+    """
+    def __init__(self, uri_parser, *args, **kwargs):
+        super(_MediaSerializer, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+        self.uri_parser = uri_parser
+
+    uri = serializers.SerializerMethodField(source='*')
+
+    def get_uri(self, course):
+        """
+        Get the representation for the media resource's URI
+        """
+        return self.uri_parser(course)
+
+
+class _CourseApiMediaCollectionSerializer(serializers.Serializer):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """
+    Nested serializer to represent a collection of media objects
+    """
+    course_image = _MediaSerializer(source='*', uri_parser=course_image_url)
+
+
+class CourseSerializer(serializers.Serializer):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """
+    Serializer for Course objects
+    """
+
+    course_id = serializers.CharField(source='id', read_only=True)  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+    name = serializers.CharField(source='display_name_with_default')
+    number = serializers.CharField(source='display_number_with_default')
+    org = serializers.CharField(source='display_org_with_default')
+    description = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    media = _CourseApiMediaCollectionSerializer(source='*')
+    start = serializers.DateTimeField()
+    start_type = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    start_display = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+    end = serializers.DateTimeField()
+    enrollment_start = serializers.DateTimeField()
+    enrollment_end = serializers.DateTimeField()
+    blocks_url = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
+
+    def get_start_type(self, course):
+        """
+        Get the representation for SerializerMethodField `start_type`
+        """
+        if course.advertised_start is not None:
+            return u'string'
+        elif course.start != DEFAULT_START_DATE:
+            return u'timestamp'
+        else:
+            return u'empty'
+
+    def get_start_display(self, course):
+        """
+        Get the representation for SerializerMethodField `start_display`
+        """
+        if course.advertised_start is not None:
+            return course.advertised_start
+        elif course.start != DEFAULT_START_DATE:
+            return defaultfilters.date(course.start, "DATE_FORMAT")
+        else:
+            return None
+
+    def get_description(self, course):
+        """
+        Get the representation for SerializerMethodField `description`
+        """
+        return get_course_about_section(self.context['request'], course, 'short_description').strip()
+
+    def get_blocks_url(self, course):
+        """
+        Get the representation for SerializerMethodField `blocks_url`
+        """
+        return '?'.join([
+            reverse('blocks_in_course'),
+            urllib.urlencode({'course_id': course.id}),
+        ])
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/mixins.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/mixins.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bdac14f05e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/mixins.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+"""
+Common mixins for Course API Tests
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime
+
+from student.tests.factories import UserFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import ToyCourseFactory
+
+
+TEST_PASSWORD = u'edx'
+
+
+class CourseApiFactoryMixin(object):
+    """
+    Mixin to allow creation of test courses and users.
+    """
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def create_course(**kwargs):
+        """
+        Create a course for use in test cases
+        """
+
+        return ToyCourseFactory.create(
+            end=datetime(2015, 9, 19, 18, 0, 0),
+            enrollment_start=datetime(2015, 6, 15, 0, 0, 0),
+            enrollment_end=datetime(2015, 7, 15, 0, 0, 0),
+            **kwargs
+        )
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def create_user(username, is_staff):
+        """
+        Create a user as identified by username, email, password and is_staff.
+        """
+        return UserFactory(
+            username=username,
+            email=u'{}@example.com'.format(username),
+            password=TEST_PASSWORD,
+            is_staff=is_staff
+        )
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8d4b446e52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+"""
+Test for course API
+"""
+
+from datetime import datetime
+from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
+from django.test import RequestFactory
+from rest_framework.exceptions import NotFound, PermissionDenied
+
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase, ModuleStoreTestCase
+from xmodule.course_module import DEFAULT_START_DATE
+
+from ..api import course_detail, list_courses
+from .mixins import CourseApiFactoryMixin
+
+
+class CourseApiTestMixin(CourseApiFactoryMixin):
+    """
+    Establish basic functionality for Course API tests
+    """
+
+    maxDiff = 5000  # long enough to show mismatched dicts
+
+    expected_course_data = {
+        'course_id': u'edX/toy/2012_Fall',
+        'name': u'Toy Course',
+        'number': u'toy',
+        'org': u'edX',
+        'description': u'A course about toys.',
+        'media': {
+            'course_image': {
+                'uri': u'/c4x/edX/toy/asset/just_a_test.jpg',
+            }
+        },
+        'start': u'2015-07-17T12:00:00Z',
+        'start_type': u'timestamp',
+        'start_display': u'July 17, 2015',
+        'end': u'2015-09-19T18:00:00Z',
+        'enrollment_start': u'2015-06-15T00:00:00Z',
+        'enrollment_end': u'2015-07-15T00:00:00Z',
+        'blocks_url': '/api/courses/v1/blocks/?course_id=edX%2Ftoy%2F2012_Fall',
+    }
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(CourseApiTestMixin, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.request_factory = RequestFactory()
+
+
+class CourseDetailTestMixin(CourseApiTestMixin):
+    """
+    Common functionality for course_detail tests
+    """
+    def _make_api_call(self, requesting_user, target_user, course_key):
+        """
+        Call the `course_detail` api endpoint to get information on the course
+        identified by `course_key`.
+        """
+        request = self.request_factory.get('/')
+        request.user = requesting_user
+        return course_detail(request, target_user, course_key)
+
+
+class TestGetCourseDetail(CourseDetailTestMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test course_detail api function
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestGetCourseDetail, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = cls.create_course()
+        cls.hidden_course = cls.create_course(course=u'hidden', visible_to_staff_only=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user('honor', is_staff=False)
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user('staff', is_staff=True)
+
+    def test_get_existing_course(self):
+        result = self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user.username, self.course.id)
+        self.assertEqual(self.expected_course_data, result)
+
+    def test_get_nonexistent_course(self):
+        course_key = CourseKey.from_string(u'edX/toy/nope')
+        with self.assertRaises(NotFound):
+            self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user.username, course_key)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_for_honor(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(NotFound):
+            self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user.username, self.hidden_course.id)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_for_staff(self):
+        result = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.staff_user.username, self.hidden_course.id)
+        self.assertIsInstance(result, dict)
+        self.assertEqual(result['course_id'], u'edX/hidden/2012_Fall')
+
+    def test_hidden_course_for_staff_as_honor(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(NotFound):
+            self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.honor_user.username, self.hidden_course.id)
+
+
+class TestGetCourseDetailStartDate(CourseDetailTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test variations of start_date field responses
+    """
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestGetCourseDetailStartDate, self).setUp()
+        self.staff_user = self.create_user('staff', is_staff=True)
+
+    def test_course_with_advertised_start(self):
+        course = self.create_course(
+            course=u'custom',
+            start=datetime(2015, 3, 15),
+            advertised_start=u'The Ides of March'
+        )
+        result = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.staff_user.username, course.id)
+        self.assertEqual(result['course_id'], u'edX/custom/2012_Fall')
+        self.assertEqual(result['start_type'], u'string')
+        self.assertEqual(result['start_display'], u'The Ides of March')
+
+    def test_course_with_empty_start_date(self):
+        course = self.create_course(start=DEFAULT_START_DATE, course=u'custom2')
+        result = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.staff_user.username, course.id)
+        self.assertEqual(result['course_id'], u'edX/custom2/2012_Fall')
+        self.assertEqual(result['start_type'], u'empty')
+        self.assertIsNone(result['start_display'])
+
+
+class CourseListTestMixin(CourseApiTestMixin):
+    """
+    Common behavior for list_courses tests
+    """
+    def _make_api_call(self, requesting_user, specified_user):
+        """
+        Call the list_courses api endpoint to get information about
+        `specified_user` on behalf of `requesting_user`.
+        """
+        request = self.request_factory.get('/')
+        request.user = requesting_user
+        return list_courses(request, specified_user.username)
+
+
+class TestGetCourseList(CourseListTestMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test the behavior of the `list_courses` api function.
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestGetCourseList, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.create_course()
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user("staff", is_staff=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user("honor", is_staff=False)
+
+    def test_as_staff(self):
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.staff_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(courses[0], self.expected_course_data)
+
+    def test_for_honor_user_as_staff(self):
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.honor_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(courses[0], self.expected_course_data)
+
+    def test_as_honor(self):
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(courses[0], self.expected_course_data)
+
+    def test_for_staff_user_as_honor(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
+            self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.staff_user)
+
+    def test_as_anonymous(self):
+        anonuser = AnonymousUser()
+        courses = self._make_api_call(anonuser, anonuser)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(courses[0], self.expected_course_data)
+
+    def test_for_honor_user_as_anonymous(self):
+        anonuser = AnonymousUser()
+        with self.assertRaises(PermissionDenied):
+            self._make_api_call(anonuser, self.staff_user)
+
+    def test_multiple_courses(self):
+        self.create_course(course='second')
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 2)
+
+
+class TestGetCourseListExtras(CourseListTestMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Tests of course_list api function that require alternative configurations
+    of created courses.
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestGetCourseListExtras, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user("staff", is_staff=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user("honor", is_staff=False)
+
+    def test_no_courses(self):
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 0)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_for_honor(self):
+        self.create_course(visible_to_staff_only=True)
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.honor_user, self.honor_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 0)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_for_staff(self):
+        self.create_course(visible_to_staff_only=True)
+        courses = self._make_api_call(self.staff_user, self.staff_user)
+        self.assertEqual(len(courses), 1)
+        self.assertEqual(courses[0], self.expected_course_data)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_permissions.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_permissions.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbfccd0a00
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_permissions.py
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+"""
+Test authorization functions
+"""
+
+from django.contrib.auth.models import AnonymousUser
+from django.test import TestCase
+
+from .mixins import CourseApiFactoryMixin
+
+from ..permissions import can_view_courses_for_username
+
+
+class ViewCoursesForUsernameTestCase(CourseApiFactoryMixin, TestCase):
+    """
+    Verify functionality of view_courses_for_username.
+
+    Any user should be able to view their own courses, and staff users
+    should be able to view anyone's courses.
+    """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(ViewCoursesForUsernameTestCase, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user('staff', is_staff=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user('honor', is_staff=False)
+        cls.anonymous_user = AnonymousUser()
+
+    def test_for_staff(self):
+        self.assertTrue(can_view_courses_for_username(self.staff_user, self.staff_user.username))
+
+    def test_for_honor(self):
+        self.assertTrue(can_view_courses_for_username(self.honor_user, self.honor_user.username))
+
+    def test_for_staff_as_honor(self):
+        self.assertTrue(can_view_courses_for_username(self.staff_user, self.honor_user.username))
+
+    def test_for_honor_as_staff(self):
+        self.assertFalse(can_view_courses_for_username(self.honor_user, self.staff_user.username))
+
+    def test_for_none_as_staff(self):
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+            can_view_courses_for_username(self.staff_user, None)
+
+    def test_for_anonymous(self):
+        self.assertTrue(can_view_courses_for_username(self.anonymous_user, self.anonymous_user.username))
+
+    def test_for_anonymous_as_honor(self):
+        self.assertFalse(can_view_courses_for_username(self.anonymous_user, self.honor_user.username))
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ab85274423
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/tests/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,146 @@
+"""
+Tests for Blocks Views
+"""
+
+from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
+from django.test import RequestFactory
+from rest_framework.exceptions import NotFound
+
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import SharedModuleStoreTestCase
+
+from .mixins import CourseApiFactoryMixin, TEST_PASSWORD
+
+from ..views import CourseDetailView
+
+
+class CourseApiTestViewMixin(CourseApiFactoryMixin):
+    """
+    Mixin class for test helpers for Course API views
+    """
+
+    def setup_user(self, requesting_user):
+        """
+        log in the specified user, and remember it as `self.user`
+        """
+        self.user = requesting_user  # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
+        self.client.login(username=self.user.username, password=TEST_PASSWORD)
+
+    def verify_response(self, expected_status_code=200, params=None, url=None):
+        """
+        Ensure that sending a GET request to self.url returns the expected
+        status code (200 by default).
+
+        Arguments:
+            expected_status_code: (default 200)
+            params:
+                query parameters to include in the request. Can include
+                `username`.
+
+        Returns:
+            response: (HttpResponse) The response returned by the request
+        """
+        query_params = {}
+        query_params.update(params or {})
+        response = self.client.get(url or self.url, data=query_params)
+        self.assertEqual(response.status_code, expected_status_code)
+        return response
+
+
+class CourseListViewTestCase(CourseApiTestViewMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test responses returned from CourseListView.
+    """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(CourseListViewTestCase, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = cls.create_course()
+        cls.url = reverse('course-list')
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user(username='staff', is_staff=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user(username='honor', is_staff=False)
+
+    def test_as_staff(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response()
+
+    def test_as_staff_for_honor(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response(params={'username': self.honor_user.username})
+
+    def test_as_honor(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response()
+
+    def test_as_honor_for_explicit_self(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response(params={'username': self.honor_user.username})
+
+    def test_as_honor_for_staff(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response(expected_status_code=403, params={'username': self.staff_user.username})
+
+    def test_not_logged_in(self):
+        self.client.logout()
+        self.verify_response()
+
+
+class CourseDetailViewTestCase(CourseApiTestViewMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test responses returned from CourseDetailView.
+    """
+
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(CourseDetailViewTestCase, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.course = cls.create_course()
+        cls.hidden_course = cls.create_course(course=u'hidden', visible_to_staff_only=True)
+        cls.url = reverse('course-detail', kwargs={'course_key_string': cls.course.id})
+        cls.hidden_url = reverse('course-detail', kwargs={'course_key_string': cls.hidden_course.id})
+        cls.nonexistent_url = reverse('course-detail', kwargs={'course_key_string': 'edX/nope/Fall_2014'})
+        cls.staff_user = cls.create_user(username='staff', is_staff=True)
+        cls.honor_user = cls.create_user(username='honor', is_staff=False)
+
+    def test_as_honor(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response()
+
+    def test_as_honor_for_explicit_self(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response(params={'username': self.honor_user.username})
+
+    def test_as_honor_for_staff(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response(expected_status_code=403, params={'username': self.staff_user.username})
+
+    def test_as_staff(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response()
+
+    def test_as_staff_for_honor(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response(params={'username': self.honor_user.username})
+
+    def test_as_anonymous_user(self):
+        self.verify_response(expected_status_code=401)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_as_honor(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.honor_user)
+        self.verify_response(expected_status_code=404, url=self.hidden_url)
+
+    def test_hidden_course_as_staff(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response(url=self.hidden_url)
+
+    def test_nonexistent_course(self):
+        self.setup_user(self.staff_user)
+        self.verify_response(expected_status_code=404, url=self.nonexistent_url)
+
+    def test_invalid_course_key(self):
+        # Our URL patterns try to block invalid course keys.  If one got
+        # through, this is how the view would respond.
+        request_factory = RequestFactory()
+        request = request_factory.get('/')
+        request.query_params = {}
+        request.user = self.staff_user
+        with self.assertRaises(NotFound):
+            CourseDetailView().get(request, 'a:b:c')
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py
index 7800ad2e67..bf24e7ead4 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/urls.py
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ Course API URLs
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.conf.urls import patterns, url, include
 
-from .views import CourseView
+from .views import CourseDetailView, CourseListView
 
 
 urlpatterns = patterns(
     '',
-    url(r'^v1/courses/{}'.format(settings.COURSE_KEY_PATTERN), CourseView.as_view(), name="course_detail"),
+    url(r'^v1/courses/$', CourseListView.as_view(), name="course-list"),
+    url(r'^v1/courses/{}'.format(settings.COURSE_KEY_PATTERN), CourseDetailView.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
index 64d20bd889..b730bd5cc5 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/course_api/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/course_api/views.py
@@ -2,52 +2,167 @@
 Course API Views
 """
 
-from rest_framework.views import APIView
-from rest_framework.response import Response
-from rest_framework.reverse import reverse
+from rest_framework.exceptions import NotFound
+from rest_framework.views import APIView, Response
 
+from opaque_keys import InvalidKeyError
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+
+
 from openedx.core.lib.api.view_utils import view_auth_classes
-from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+
+from .api import course_detail, list_courses
 
 
 @view_auth_classes()
-class CourseView(APIView):
+class CourseDetailView(APIView):
     """
-    Course API view
+    **Use Cases**
+
+        Request information on a course
+
+    **Example Requests**
+
+        GET /api/courses/v1/courses/{course_key}/
+
+    **Response Values**
+
+        Body consists of the following fields:
+
+        * blocks_url: used to fetch the course blocks
+        * media: An object that contains named media items.  Included here:
+            * course_image: An image to show for the course.  Represented
+              as an object with the following fields:
+                * uri: The location of the image
+                * name:
+                * description:
+                * type:
+        * end: Date the course ends
+        * enrollment_end: Date enrollment ends
+        * enrollment_start: Date enrollment begins
+        * course_id: Course key
+        * name: Name of the course
+        * number: Catalog number of the course
+        * org: Name of the organization that owns the course
+        * description: A textual description of the course
+        * start: Date the course begins
+        * start_display: Readably formatted start of the course
+        * start_type: Hint describing how `start_display` is set. One of:
+            * `"string"`: manually set
+            * `"timestamp"`: generated form `start` timestamp
+            * `"empty"`: the start date should not be shown
+
+    **Parameters:**
+
+        username (optional):
+            The username of the specified user whose visible courses we
+            want to see.  Defaults to the current user.
+
+    **Returns**
+
+        * 200 on success with above fields.
+        * 403 if a user who does not have permission to masquerade as
+          another user specifies a username other than their own.
+        * 404 if the course is not available or cannot be seen.
+
+        Example response:
+
+            {
+                "blocks_url": "/api/courses/v1/blocks/?course_id=edX%2Fexample%2F2012_Fall",
+                "media": {
+                    "course_image": {
+                        "uri": "/c4x/edX/example/asset/just_a_test.jpg",
+                        "name": "Course Image"
+                    }
+                },
+                "description": "An example course.",
+                "end": "2015-09-19T18:00:00Z",
+                "enrollment_end": "2015-07-15T00:00:00Z",
+                "enrollment_start": "2015-06-15T00:00:00Z",
+                "id": "edX/example/2012_Fall",
+                "name": "Example Course",
+                "number": "example",
+                "org": "edX",
+                "start": "2015-07-17T12:00:00Z",
+                "start_display": "July 17, 2015",
+                "start_type": "timestamp"
+            }
     """
 
     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.
+        GET /api/courses/v1/courses/{course_key}/
+        """
 
-        Arguments:
-            request (HttpRequest)
-            course_key_string
-
-        Returns:
-            HttpResponse: 200 on success
+        username = request.query_params.get('username', request.user.username)
+        try:
+            course_key = CourseKey.from_string(course_key_string)
+        except InvalidKeyError:
+            raise NotFound()
+        content = course_detail(request, username, course_key)
+        return Response(content)
 
 
-        Example Usage:
+class CourseListView(APIView):
+    """
+    **Use Cases**
 
-            GET /api/courses/v1/[course_key_string]
-            200 OK
+        Request information on all courses visible to the specified user.
+
+    **Example Requests**
+
+        GET /api/courses/v1/courses/
+
+    **Response Values**
+
+        Body comprises a list of objects as returned by `CourseDetailView`.
+
+    **Parameters**
+
+        username (optional):
+            The username of the specified user whose visible courses we
+            want to see.  Defaults to the current user.
+
+    **Returns**
+
+        * 200 on success, with a list of course discovery objects as returned
+          by `CourseDetailView`.
+        * 403 if a user who does not have permission to masquerade as
+          another user specifies a username other than their own.
+        * 404 if the specified user does not exist, or the requesting user does
+          not have permission to view their courses.
 
         Example response:
 
-            {"blocks_url": "https://server/api/courses/v1/blocks/[usage_key]"}
+            [
+              {
+                "blocks_url": "/api/courses/v1/blocks/?course_id=edX%2Fexample%2F2012_Fall",
+                "media": {
+                  "course_image": {
+                    "uri": "/c4x/edX/example/asset/just_a_test.jpg",
+                    "name": "Course Image"
+                  }
+                },
+                "description": "An example course.",
+                "end": "2015-09-19T18:00:00Z",
+                "enrollment_end": "2015-07-15T00:00:00Z",
+                "enrollment_start": "2015-06-15T00:00:00Z",
+                "id": "edX/example/2012_Fall",
+                "name": "Example Course",
+                "number": "example",
+                "org": "edX",
+                "start": "2015-07-17T12:00:00Z",
+                "start_display": "July 17, 2015",
+                "start_type": "timestamp"
+              }
+            ]
+    """
+
+    def get(self, request):
         """
+        GET /api/courses/v1/courses/
+        """
+        username = request.query_params.get('username', request.user.username)
 
-        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})
+        content = list_courses(request, username)
+        return Response(content)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
index 6f049d5ccf..ba371bc2e3 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/access.py
@@ -302,10 +302,6 @@ def _has_access_course_desc(user, action, course):
         """
         Can see if can enroll, but also if can load it: if user enrolled in a course and now
         it's past the enrollment period, they should still see it.
-
-        TODO (vshnayder): This means that courses with limited enrollment periods will not appear
-        to non-staff visitors after the enrollment period is over.  If this is not what we want, will
-        need to change this logic.
         """
         # VS[compat] -- this setting should go away once all courses have
         # properly configured enrollment_start times (if course should be
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
index d5c674f6fb..709cc2fd42 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py
@@ -44,21 +44,6 @@ from opaque_keys.edx.keys import UsageKey
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-def get_request_for_thread():
-    """Walk up the stack, return the nearest first argument named "request"."""
-    frame = None
-    try:
-        for f in inspect.stack()[1:]:
-            frame = f[0]
-            code = frame.f_code
-            if code.co_varnames[:1] == ("request",):
-                return frame.f_locals["request"]
-            elif code.co_varnames[:2] == ("self", "request",):
-                return frame.f_locals["request"]
-    finally:
-        del frame
-
-
 def get_course(course_id, depth=0):
     """
     Given a course id, return the corresponding course descriptor.
@@ -178,7 +163,7 @@ def get_course_university_about_section(course):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
     return course.display_org_with_default
 
 
-def get_course_about_section(course, section_key):
+def get_course_about_section(request, course, section_key):
     """
     This returns the snippet of html to be rendered on the course about page,
     given the key for the section.
@@ -206,17 +191,30 @@ def get_course_about_section(course, section_key):
     # markup. This can change without effecting this interface when we find a
     # good format for defining so many snippets of text/html.
 
-    # TODO: Remove number, instructors from this list
-    if section_key in ['short_description', 'description', 'key_dates', 'video',
-                       'course_staff_short', 'course_staff_extended',
-                       'requirements', 'syllabus', 'textbook', 'faq', 'more_info',
-                       'number', 'instructors', 'overview',
-                       'effort', 'end_date', 'prerequisites', 'ocw_links']:
+    # TODO: Remove number, instructors from this set
+    html_sections = {
+        'short_description',
+        'description',
+        'key_dates',
+        'video',
+        'course_staff_short',
+        'course_staff_extended',
+        'requirements',
+        'syllabus',
+        'textbook',
+        'faq',
+        'more_info',
+        'number',
+        'instructors',
+        'overview',
+        'effort',
+        'end_date',
+        'prerequisites',
+        'ocw_links'
+    }
 
+    if section_key in html_sections:
         try:
-
-            request = get_request_for_thread()
-
             loc = course.location.replace(category='about', name=section_key)
 
             # Use an empty cache
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
index 23806a07a6..935b5d9d2e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_courses.py
@@ -198,12 +198,10 @@ class CoursesRenderTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             course_info = get_course_info_section(self.request, self.course, 'handouts')
             self.assertIn("this module is temporarily unavailable", course_info)
 
-    @mock.patch('courseware.courses.get_request_for_thread')
-    def test_get_course_about_section_render(self, mock_get_request):
-        mock_get_request.return_value = self.request
+    def test_get_course_about_section_render(self):
 
         # Test render works okay
-        course_about = get_course_about_section(self.course, 'short_description')
+        course_about = get_course_about_section(self.request, self.course, 'short_description')
         self.assertEqual(course_about, "A course about toys.")
 
         # Test when render raises an exception
@@ -211,7 +209,7 @@ class CoursesRenderTest(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             mock_module_render.return_value = mock.MagicMock(
                 render=mock.Mock(side_effect=Exception('Render failed!'))
             )
-            course_about = get_course_about_section(self.course, 'short_description')
+            course_about = get_course_about_section(self.request, self.course, 'short_description')
             self.assertIn("this module is temporarily unavailable", course_about)
 
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/course.html b/lms/templates/course.html
index f52be12a90..b9251a37b3 100644
--- a/lms/templates/course.html
+++ b/lms/templates/course.html
@@ -5,25 +5,25 @@ from django.core.urlresolvers import reverse
 from courseware.courses import course_image_url, get_course_about_section
 %>
 <%page args="course" />
-<article class="course" id="${course.id | h}" role="region" aria-label="${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')}">
+<article class="course" id="${course.id | h}" role="region" aria-label="${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')}">
   <a href="${reverse('about_course', args=[course.id.to_deprecated_string()])}">
     <header class="course-image">
       <div class="cover-image">
-        <img src="${course_image_url(course)}" alt="${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')} ${course.display_number_with_default}" />
+        <img src="${course_image_url(course)}" alt="${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')} ${course.display_number_with_default}" />
         <div class="learn-more" aria-hidden=true>${_("LEARN MORE")}</div>
       </div>
     </header>
     <div class="course-info" aria-hidden="true">
       <h2 class="course-name">
-        <span class="course-organization">${get_course_about_section(course, 'university')}</span>
+        <span class="course-organization">${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'university')}</span>
         <span class="course-code">${course.display_number_with_default}</span>
-        <span class="course-title">${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')}</span>
+        <span class="course-title">${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')}</span>
       </h2>
       <div class="course-date" aria-hidden="true">${_("Starts")}: ${course.start_datetime_text()}</div>
     </div>
     <div class="sr">
       <ul>
-      <li>${get_course_about_section(course, 'university')}</li>
+      <li>${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'university')}</li>
       <li>${course.display_number_with_default}</li>
       <li>${_("Starts")}: <time itemprop="startDate" datetime="${course.start_datetime_text()}">${course.start_datetime_text()}</time></li>
     </ul>
diff --git a/lms/templates/courseware/course_about.html b/lms/templates/courseware/course_about.html
index 0395554415..a41bd48446 100644
--- a/lms/templates/courseware/course_about.html
+++ b/lms/templates/courseware/course_about.html
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
 
   ## OG (Open Graph) title and description added below to give social media info to display
   ## (https://developers.facebook.com/docs/opengraph/howtos/maximizing-distribution-media-content#tags)
-  <meta property="og:title" content="${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')}" />
-  <meta property="og:description" content="${get_course_about_section(course, 'short_description')}" />
+  <meta property="og:title" content="${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')}" />
+  <meta property="og:description" content="${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'short_description')}" />
 </%block>
 
 <%block name="js_extra">
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
   <script src="${static.url('js/course_info.js')}"></script>
 </%block>
 
-<%block name="pagetitle">${get_course_about_section(course, "title")}</%block>
+<%block name="pagetitle">${get_course_about_section(request, course, "title")}</%block>
 
 <section class="course-info">
   <header class="course-profile">
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
       <section class="intro">
         <hgroup>
           <h1>
-            ${get_course_about_section(course, "title")}
+            ${get_course_about_section(request, course, "title")}
             % if not self.theme_enabled():
-              <a href="#">${get_course_about_section(course, "university")}</a>
+              <a href="#">${get_course_about_section(request, course, "university")}</a>
             % endif
           </h1>
         </hgroup>
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
         </div>
 
       </section>
-      % if get_course_about_section(course, "video"):
+      % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "video"):
       <a href="#video-modal" class="media" rel="leanModal">
         <div class="hero">
           <img src="${course_image_url(course)}" alt="" />
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
       </nav>
 
       <div class="inner-wrapper">
-        ${get_course_about_section(course, "overview")}
+        ${get_course_about_section(request, course, "overview")}
       </div>
     </section>
 
@@ -231,10 +231,10 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
             ##       or something allowing themes to do whatever they
             ##       want here (and on this whole page, really).
             % if self.stanford_theme_enabled():
-              <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+just+enrolled+in+${course.number}+${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')}!+(http://class.stanford.edu)" class="share">
+              <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+just+enrolled+in+${course.number}+${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')}!+(http://class.stanford.edu)" class="share">
                 <i class="icon fa fa-twitter"></i><span class="sr">${_("Tweet that you've enrolled in this course")}</span>
               </a>
-              <a href="mailto:?subject=Take%20a%20course%20at%20Stanford%20online!&body=I%20just%20enrolled%20in%20${course.number}%20${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')}+(http://class.stanford.edu)" class="share">
+              <a href="mailto:?subject=Take%20a%20course%20at%20Stanford%20online!&body=I%20just%20enrolled%20in%20${course.number}%20${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')}+(http://class.stanford.edu)" class="share">
                 <i class="icon fa fa-envelope"></i><span class="sr">${_("Email someone to say you've enrolled in this course")}</span>
               </a>
             % else:
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
                 ## Twitter account. {url} should appear at the end of the text.
                 tweet_text = _("I just enrolled in {number} {title} through {account}: {url}").format(
                     number=course.number,
-                    title=get_course_about_section(course, 'title'),
+                    title=get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title'),
                     account=microsite.get_value('course_about_twitter_account', settings.PLATFORM_TWITTER_ACCOUNT),
                     url=u"http://{domain}{path}".format(
                         domain=site_domain,
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
                     subject=_("Take a course with {platform} online").format(platform=platform_name),
                     body=_("I just enrolled in {number} {title} through {platform} {url}").format(
                         number=course.number,
-                        title=get_course_about_section(course, 'title'),
+                        title=get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title'),
                         platform=platform_name,
                         url=u"http://{domain}{path}".format(
                             domain=site_domain,
@@ -291,13 +291,13 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
           % endif
             ## We plan to ditch end_date (which is not stored in course metadata),
             ## but for backwards compatibility, show about/end_date blob if it exists.
-            % if get_course_about_section(course, "end_date") or course.end:
+            % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "end_date") or course.end:
             <li class="important-dates-item">
                 <i class="icon fa fa-calendar"></i>
                 <p class="important-dates-item-title">${_("Classes End")}</p>
                 <span class="important-dates-item-text final-date">
-                    % if get_course_about_section(course, "end_date"):
-                        ${get_course_about_section(course, "end_date")}
+                    % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "end_date"):
+                        ${get_course_about_section(request, course, "end_date")}
                     % else:
                         ${course.end_datetime_text()}
                     % endif
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
             </li>
             % endif
 
-          % if get_course_about_section(course, "effort"):
-            <li class="important-dates-item"><i class="icon fa fa-pencil"></i><p class="important-dates-item-title">${_("Estimated Effort")}</p><span class="important-dates-item-text effort">${get_course_about_section(course, "effort")}</span></li>
+          % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "effort"):
+            <li class="important-dates-item"><i class="icon fa fa-pencil"></i><p class="important-dates-item-title">${_("Estimated Effort")}</p><span class="important-dates-item-text effort">${get_course_about_section(request, course, "effort")}</span></li>
           % endif
 
           ##<li class="important-dates-item"><i class="icon fa fa-clock-o"></i><p class="important-dates-item-title">${_('Course Length')}</p><span class="important-dates-item-text course-length">${_('{number} weeks').format(number=15)}</span></li>
@@ -335,15 +335,15 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
             </p>
           </li>
           % endif
-          % if get_course_about_section(course, "prerequisites"):
-            <li class="important-dates-item"><i class="icon fa fa-book"></i><p class="important-dates-item-title">${_("Requirements")}</p><span class="important-dates-item-text prerequisites">${get_course_about_section(course, "prerequisites")}</span></li>
+          % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "prerequisites"):
+            <li class="important-dates-item"><i class="icon fa fa-book"></i><p class="important-dates-item-title">${_("Requirements")}</p><span class="important-dates-item-text prerequisites">${get_course_about_section(request, course, "prerequisites")}</span></li>
           % endif
         </ol>
       </section>
 
 
       ## For now, ocw links are the only thing that goes in additional resources
-      % if get_course_about_section(course, "ocw_links"):
+      % if get_course_about_section(request, course, "ocw_links"):
       <section class="additional-resources">
         <header>
           <h1>${_("Additional Resources")}</h1>
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ from edxmako.shortcuts import marketing_link
         <section>
           ## "MITOpenCourseware" should *not* be translated
           <h2 class="opencourseware">MITOpenCourseware</h2>
-             ${get_course_about_section(course, "ocw_links")}
+             ${get_course_about_section(request, course, "ocw_links")}
         </section>
       </section>
       %endif
diff --git a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/receipt.html b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/receipt.html
index 3940af4c63..3524ab6599 100644
--- a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/receipt.html
+++ b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/receipt.html
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ from microsite_configuration import microsite
         <div class="clearfix">
           <div class="image">
             <img class="item-image" src="${course_image_url(course)}"
-                 alt="${course.display_number_with_default | h} ${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')} Image"/>
+                 alt="${course.display_number_with_default | h} ${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')} Image"/>
           </div>
           <div class="data-input">
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_receipt.html b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_receipt.html
index b2f37b452d..b03096cea9 100644
--- a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_receipt.html
+++ b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_receipt.html
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from courseware.courses import course_image_url, get_course_about_section
         <img class="item-image" src="${course_image_url(course)}"
             alt="${_("{course_number} {course_title} Cover Image").format(
               course_number=course.display_number_with_default,
-              course_title=get_course_about_section(course, 'title'),
+              course_title=get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title'),
             )}"/>
       </div>
       <div class="enrollment-details">
diff --git a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_redemption.html b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_redemption.html
index 3c91e41ce3..b8b62da538 100644
--- a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_redemption.html
+++ b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/registration_code_redemption.html
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from courseware.courses import course_image_url, get_course_about_section
         <img class="item-image" src="${course_image_url(course)}"
             alt="${_("{course_number} {course_title} Cover Image").format(
               course_number=course.display_number_with_default,
-              course_title=get_course_about_section(course, 'title'),
+              course_title=get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title'),
             )}" />
       </div>
       <div class="enrollment-details">
diff --git a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/shopping_cart.html b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/shopping_cart.html
index 9d2a4b53a7..01b71824fb 100644
--- a/lms/templates/shoppingcart/shopping_cart.html
+++ b/lms/templates/shoppingcart/shopping_cart.html
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import ungettext
         <div class="clearfix">
         <div class="image">
           <img class="item-image" src="${course_image_url(course)}"
-              alt="${course.display_number_with_default | h} ${get_course_about_section(course, 'title')} ${_('Cover Image')}" />
+              alt="${course.display_number_with_default | h} ${get_course_about_section(request, course, 'title')} ${_('Cover Image')}" />
         </div>
         <div class="data-input">
           ## Translators: "Registration for:" is followed by a course name
diff --git a/lms/templates/video_modal.html b/lms/templates/video_modal.html
index a895df78d0..37c465052c 100644
--- a/lms/templates/video_modal.html
+++ b/lms/templates/video_modal.html
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
-<%! 
+<%!
   from courseware.courses import get_course_about_section
 %>
 <%namespace name='static' file='static_content.html'/>
 
 <section id="video-modal" class="modal video-modal">
   <div class="inner-wrapper">
-    ${get_course_about_section(course, "video")}
+    ${get_course_about_section(request, course, "video")}
   </div>
 </section>