diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/course_details.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/course_details.py
index c2fce5cafe..cdf0c76340 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/course_details.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/course_details.py
@@ -60,10 +60,13 @@ class CourseDetails(object):
         self.self_paced = None
 
     @classmethod
-    def _fetch_about_attribute(cls, course_key, attribute):
+    def fetch_about_attribute(cls, course_key, attribute):
         """
         Retrieve an attribute from a course's "about" info
         """
+        if attribute not in ABOUT_ATTRIBUTES + ['video']:
+            raise ValueError("'{0}' is not a valid course about attribute.".format(attribute))
+
         usage_key = course_key.make_usage_key('about', attribute)
         try:
             value = modulestore().get_item(usage_key).data
@@ -96,7 +99,7 @@ class CourseDetails(object):
         course_details.intro_video = cls.fetch_youtube_video_id(course_key)
 
         for attribute in ABOUT_ATTRIBUTES:
-            value = cls._fetch_about_attribute(course_key, attribute)
+            value = cls.fetch_about_attribute(course_key, attribute)
             if value is not None:
                 setattr(course_details, attribute, value)
 
@@ -107,7 +110,7 @@ class CourseDetails(object):
         """
         Returns the course about video ID.
         """
-        raw_video = cls._fetch_about_attribute(course_key, 'video')
+        raw_video = cls.fetch_about_attribute(course_key, 'video')
         if raw_video:
             return cls.parse_video_tag(raw_video)
 
@@ -120,13 +123,6 @@ class CourseDetails(object):
         if video_id:
             return "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v={0}".format(video_id)
 
-    @classmethod
-    def fetch_effort(cls, course_key):
-        """
-        Returns the hours per week of effort for the course.
-        """
-        return cls._fetch_about_attribute(course_key, 'effort')
-
     @classmethod
     def update_about_item(cls, course, about_key, data, user_id, store=None):
         """
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/tests/test_course_details.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/tests/test_course_details.py
index e5e490f4ec..0c2850a539 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/tests/test_course_details.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/models/tests/test_course_details.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ Tests for CourseDetails
 """
 
 import datetime
+import ddt
 from django.utils.timezone import UTC
 
 from xmodule.modulestore import ModuleStoreEnum
@@ -10,9 +11,10 @@ from xmodule.modulestore.tests.django_utils import ModuleStoreTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
 
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.self_paced.models import SelfPacedConfiguration
-from openedx.core.djangoapps.models.course_details import CourseDetails
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.models.course_details import CourseDetails, ABOUT_ATTRIBUTES
 
 
+@ddt.ddt
 class CourseDetailsTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
     """
     Tests the first course settings page (course dates, overview, etc.).
@@ -111,11 +113,19 @@ class CourseDetailsTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
             )
         self.assertFalse(updated_details.self_paced)
 
-    def test_fetch_effort(self):
-        effort_value = 'test_hours_of_effort'
+    @ddt.data(*ABOUT_ATTRIBUTES)
+    def test_fetch_about_attribute(self, attribute_name):
+        attribute_value = 'test_value'
         with self.store.branch_setting(ModuleStoreEnum.Branch.draft_preferred, self.course.id):
-            CourseDetails.update_about_item(self.course, 'effort', effort_value, self.user.id)
-        self.assertEqual(CourseDetails.fetch_effort(self.course.id), effort_value)
+            CourseDetails.update_about_item(self.course, attribute_name, attribute_value, self.user.id)
+        self.assertEqual(CourseDetails.fetch_about_attribute(self.course.id, attribute_name), attribute_value)
+
+    def test_fetch_about_attribute_error(self):
+        attribute_name = 'not_an_about_attribute'
+        with self.store.branch_setting(ModuleStoreEnum.Branch.draft_preferred, self.course.id):
+            CourseDetails.update_about_item(self.course, attribute_name, 'test_value', self.user.id)
+        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
+            CourseDetails.fetch_about_attribute(self.course.id, attribute_name)
 
     def test_fetch_video(self):
         video_value = 'test_video_id'