diff --git a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_views.py b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_views.py
index e2de9d6236..c58c914ccc 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/course_modes/tests/test_views.py
@@ -33,9 +33,11 @@ class CourseModeViewTest(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Course Mode View tests
     """
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['course_modes.urls']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'MODE_CREATION_FOR_TESTING': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(CourseModeViewTest, self).setUp('course_modes.urls')
+        super(CourseModeViewTest, self).setUp()
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username="Bob", email="bob@example.com", password="edx")
         self.client.login(username=self.user.username, password="edx")
@@ -392,9 +394,11 @@ class CourseModeViewTest(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
 class TrackSelectionEmbargoTest(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Test embargo restrictions on the track selection page. """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(TrackSelectionEmbargoTest, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(TrackSelectionEmbargoTest, self).setUp()
 
         # Create a course and course modes
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_api.py b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_api.py
index 383173fbee..217aab0927 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_api.py
@@ -238,9 +238,11 @@ class EmbargoCheckAccessApiTests(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 class EmbargoMessageUrlApiTests(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Test the embargo API calls for retrieving the blocking message URLs. """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(EmbargoMessageUrlApiTests, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(EmbargoMessageUrlApiTests, self).setUp()
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
 
     def tearDown(self):
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
index 369a3d29b0..953989ff5b 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_middleware.py
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@ class EmbargoMiddlewareAccessTests(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     USERNAME = 'fred'
     PASSWORD = 'secret'
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(EmbargoMiddlewareAccessTests, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(EmbargoMiddlewareAccessTests, self).setUp()
         self.user = UserFactory(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.client.login(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_views.py b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_views.py
index 48a8c94653..09b3a48781 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/embargo/tests/test_views.py
@@ -32,9 +32,11 @@ class CourseAccessMessageViewTest(UrlResetMixin, TestCase):
 
     """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(CourseAccessMessageViewTest, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(CourseAccessMessageViewTest, self).setUp()
 
     @ddt.data(*messages.ENROLL_MESSAGES.keys())
     def test_enrollment_messages(self, msg_key):
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/enrollment/tests/test_views.py b/common/djangoapps/enrollment/tests/test_views.py
index 312c3de28f..722709bc29 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/enrollment/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/enrollment/tests/test_views.py
@@ -890,10 +890,12 @@ class EnrollmentEmbargoTest(EnrollmentTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestC
     EMAIL = "bob@example.com"
     PASSWORD = "edx"
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
         """ Create a course and user, then log in. """
-        super(EnrollmentEmbargoTest, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(EnrollmentEmbargoTest, self).setUp()
 
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         # Load a CourseOverview. This initial load should result in a cache
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_enrollment.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_enrollment.py
index d8fa1c120a..acabe344c3 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_enrollment.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_enrollment.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ class EnrollmentTest(UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     USERNAME = "Bob"
     EMAIL = "bob@example.com"
     PASSWORD = "edx"
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
@@ -42,7 +43,7 @@ class EnrollmentTest(UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
         """ Create a course and user, then log in. """
-        super(EnrollmentTest, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(EnrollmentTest, self).setUp()
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username=self.USERNAME, email=self.EMAIL, password=self.PASSWORD)
         self.client.login(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
         self.course_limited.max_student_enrollments_allowed = 1
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_login_registration_forms.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_login_registration_forms.py
index f0f338721d..d7f8713069 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_login_registration_forms.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_login_registration_forms.py
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ def _finish_auth_url(params):
 class LoginFormTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Test rendering of the login form. """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['lms.urls']
+
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(LoginFormTest, cls).setUpClass()
@@ -47,7 +49,7 @@ class LoginFormTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTes
 
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {"ENABLE_COMBINED_LOGIN_REGISTRATION": False})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(LoginFormTest, self).setUp('lms.urls')
+        super(LoginFormTest, self).setUp()
 
         self.url = reverse("signin_user")
         self.course_id = unicode(self.course.id)
@@ -155,6 +157,8 @@ class LoginFormTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTes
 class RegisterFormTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Test rendering of the registration form. """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['lms.urls']
+    
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):
         super(RegisterFormTest, cls).setUpClass()
@@ -162,7 +166,7 @@ class RegisterFormTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMixin, SharedModuleStore
 
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {"ENABLE_COMBINED_LOGIN_REGISTRATION": False})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(RegisterFormTest, self).setUp('lms.urls')
+        super(RegisterFormTest, self).setUp()
 
         self.url = reverse("register_user")
         self.course_id = unicode(self.course.id)
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_verification_status.py b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_verification_status.py
index 022a0ec0f4..447fccdd96 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_verification_status.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/student/tests/test_verification_status.py
@@ -35,9 +35,11 @@ class TestCourseVerificationStatus(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     PAST = datetime.now(UTC) - timedelta(days=5)
     FUTURE = datetime.now(UTC) + timedelta(days=5)
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['verify_student.urls']
+
     def setUp(self):
         # Invoke UrlResetMixin
-        super(TestCourseVerificationStatus, self).setUp('verify_student.urls')
+        super(TestCourseVerificationStatus, self).setUp()
 
         self.user = UserFactory(password="edx")
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/util/testing.py b/common/djangoapps/util/testing.py
index c33ce68148..20d8799be2 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/util/testing.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/util/testing.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ class UrlResetMixin(object):
     that affect the contents of urls.py
     """
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = None
+
     def _reset_urls(self, urlconf_modules):
         """Reset `urls.py` for a set of Django apps."""
         for urlconf in urlconf_modules:
@@ -39,29 +41,29 @@ class UrlResetMixin(object):
         # Resolve a URL so that the new urlconf gets loaded
         resolve('/')
 
-    def setUp(self, *args, **kwargs):
+    def setUp(self):
         """Reset Django urls before tests and after tests
 
         If you need to reset `urls.py` from a particular Django app (or apps),
-        specify these modules in *args.
+        specify these modules by setting the URLCONF_MODULES class attribute.
 
         Examples:
 
             # Reload only the root urls.py
-            super(MyTestCase, self).setUp()
+            URLCONF_MODULES = None
 
             # Reload urls from my_app
-            super(MyTestCase, self).setUp("my_app.urls")
+            URLCONF_MODULES = ['myapp.url']
 
             # Reload urls from my_app and another_app
-            super(MyTestCase, self).setUp("my_app.urls", "another_app.urls")
+            URLCONF_MODULES = ['myapp.url', 'another_app.urls']
 
         """
-        super(UrlResetMixin, self).setUp(**kwargs)
+        super(UrlResetMixin, self).setUp()
 
         urlconf_modules = [settings.ROOT_URLCONF]
-        if args:
-            urlconf_modules.extend(args)
+        if self.URLCONF_MODULES is not None:
+            urlconf_modules.extend(self.URLCONF_MODULES)
 
         self._reset_urls(urlconf_modules)
         self.addCleanup(lambda: self._reset_urls(urlconf_modules))
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_views.py
index 60a12ee310..175fce6622 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/shoppingcart/tests/test_views.py
@@ -1843,9 +1843,11 @@ class RedeemCodeEmbargoTests(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase):
     USERNAME = 'bob'
     PASSWORD = 'test'
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(RedeemCodeEmbargoTests, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(RedeemCodeEmbargoTests, self).setUp()
         self.course = CourseFactory.create()
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
         result = self.client.login(username=self.user.username, password=self.PASSWORD)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
index 493d8bd1e5..782b18b307 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/student_account/test/test_views.py
@@ -62,8 +62,10 @@ class StudentAccountUpdateTest(UrlResetMixin, TestCase):
 
     INVALID_KEY = u"123abc"
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['student_accounts.urls']
+
     def setUp(self):
-        super(StudentAccountUpdateTest, self).setUp("student_account.urls")
+        super(StudentAccountUpdateTest, self).setUp()
 
         # Create/activate a new account
         activation_key = create_account(self.USERNAME, self.OLD_PASSWORD, self.OLD_EMAIL)
@@ -213,9 +215,11 @@ class StudentAccountLoginAndRegistrationTest(ThirdPartyAuthTestMixin, UrlResetMi
     EMAIL = "bob@example.com"
     PASSWORD = "password"
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @mock.patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(StudentAccountLoginAndRegistrationTest, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(StudentAccountLoginAndRegistrationTest, self).setUp()
 
         # For these tests, three third party auth providers are enabled by default:
         self.configure_google_provider(enabled=True)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_fake_software_secure.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_fake_software_secure.py
index 8bb513d093..f33b69a2a9 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_fake_software_secure.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_fake_software_secure.py
@@ -14,10 +14,13 @@ class SoftwareSecureFakeViewTest(UrlResetMixin, TestCase):
     """
     Base class to test the fake software secure view.
     """
+    
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['verify_student.urls']
+
     def setUp(self, **kwargs):
         enable_software_secure_fake = kwargs.get('enable_software_secure_fake', False)
         with patch.dict('django.conf.settings.FEATURES', {'ENABLE_SOFTWARE_SECURE_FAKE': enable_software_secure_fake}):
-            super(SoftwareSecureFakeViewTest, self).setUp('verify_student.urls')
+            super(SoftwareSecureFakeViewTest, self).setUp()
 
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username="test", password="test")
         self.attempt = SoftwareSecurePhotoVerification.objects.create(user=self.user)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
index e1405a58fd..c6d8922dfb 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/verify_student/tests/test_views.py
@@ -104,9 +104,11 @@ class TestPayAndVerifyView(UrlResetMixin, ModuleStoreTestCase, XssTestMixin):
     YESTERDAY = NOW - timedelta(days=1)
     TOMORROW = NOW + timedelta(days=1)
 
+    URLCONF_MODULES = ['embargo']
+
     @mock.patch.dict(settings.FEATURES, {'EMBARGO': True})
     def setUp(self):
-        super(TestPayAndVerifyView, self).setUp('embargo')
+        super(TestPayAndVerifyView, self).setUp()
         self.user = UserFactory.create(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
         result = self.client.login(username=self.USERNAME, password=self.PASSWORD)
         self.assertTrue(result, msg="Could not log in")