diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/tests/test_views.py
index f8fc0b51f3..d477150742 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/discussion/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/discussion/tests/test_views.py
@@ -700,7 +700,10 @@ class SingleThreadAccessTestCase(CohortedTestCase):
                 None
             )
             self.assertEqual(403, response.status_code)
-            self.assertEqual(views.TEAM_PERMISSION_MESSAGE, response.content)
+            self.assertEqual(
+                views.TEAM_PERMISSION_MESSAGE,
+                response.content.decode('utf-8'),
+            )
 
 
 @patch('openedx.core.djangoapps.django_comment_common.comment_client.utils.requests.request', autospec=True)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/__init__.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/__init__.py
index b272e23460..97dc0bca22 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/__init__.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/__init__.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 """
 Defines common methods shared by Teams classes
 """
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django.conf import settings
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/api.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/api.py
index d7849b3abd..73b5dbd3fb 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/api.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 The Python API other app should use to work with Teams feature
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from lms.djangoapps.teams.models import CourseTeam
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/api_urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/api_urls.py
index fe952ae17d..393bea388d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/api_urls.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/api_urls.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 """
 Defines the URL routes for the Team API.
 """
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.conf.urls import url
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/errors.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/errors.py
index 9f3b023d24..491660b49b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/errors.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/errors.py
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
-"""Errors thrown in the Team API"""
+"""
+Errors thrown in the Team API.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 
 class TeamAPIRequestError(Exception):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/management/commands/tests/test_reindex_course_team.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/management/commands/tests/test_reindex_course_team.py
index c94d407db7..f049f2a2af 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/management/commands/tests/test_reindex_course_team.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/management/commands/tests/test_reindex_course_team.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 """
-Tests for course_team reindex command
+Tests for course_team reindex command.
 """
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import ddt
 from django.core.management import CommandError, call_command
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/models.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/models.py
index fc4cf8525d..30348961d6 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/models.py
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 """
 Django models related to teams functionality.
 """
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import uuid4
@@ -12,6 +11,7 @@ from django.contrib.auth.models import User
 from django.core.exceptions import ObjectDoesNotExist
 from django.db import models
 from django.dispatch import receiver
+from django.utils.encoding import python_2_unicode_compatible
 from django.utils.text import slugify
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_lazy
 from django_countries.fields import CountryField
@@ -95,14 +95,26 @@ def handle_activity(user, post, original_author_id=None):
         CourseTeamMembership.update_last_activity(user, post.commentable_id)
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class CourseTeam(models.Model):
     """
     This model represents team related info.
 
     .. no_pii:
     """
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return '[CourseTeam id={}]'.format(self.team_id)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "{} in {}".format(self.name, self.course_id)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return (
+            "<CourseTeam"
+            " id={0.id}"
+            " team_id={0.team_id}"
+            " team_size={0.team_size}"
+            " topic_id={0.topic_id}"
+            " course_id={0.course_id}"
+            ">"
+        ).format(self)
 
     class Meta(object):
         app_label = "teams"
@@ -163,9 +175,6 @@ class CourseTeam(models.Model):
 
         return course_team
 
-    def __repr__(self):
-        return "<CourseTeam team_id={0.team_id}>".format(self)
-
     def add_user(self, user):
         """Adds the given user to the CourseTeam."""
         if not CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled(user, self.course_id):
@@ -183,6 +192,7 @@ class CourseTeam(models.Model):
         self.save()
 
 
+@python_2_unicode_compatible
 class CourseTeamMembership(models.Model):
     """
     This model represents the membership of a single user in a single team.
@@ -190,8 +200,17 @@ class CourseTeamMembership(models.Model):
     .. no_pii:
     """
 
-    def __unicode__(self):
-        return "[CourseTeamMembership user={}, team={}]".format(self.user, self.team)
+    def __str__(self):
+        return "{} is member of {}".format(self.user.username, self.team)
+
+    def __repr__(self):
+        return (
+            "<CourseTeamMembership"
+            " id={0.id}"
+            " user_id={0.user.id}"
+            " team_id={0.team.id}"
+            ">"
+        ).format(self)
 
     class Meta(object):
         app_label = "teams"
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/plugins.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/plugins.py
index 3aefdd4b47..9d1074ab31 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/plugins.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/plugins.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """
 Definition of the course team feature.
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django.utils.translation import ugettext_noop
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/search_indexes.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/search_indexes.py
index 70914f42e9..6806555b52 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/search_indexes.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/search_indexes.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-""" Search index used to load data into elasticsearch"""
+"""
+Search index used to load data into elasticsearch.
+"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import logging
 from functools import wraps
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/serializers.py
index 3b6d8949e1..0aad1d0b0f 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/serializers.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
-"""Defines serializers used by the Team API."""
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+"""
+Defines serializers used by the Team API.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from copy import deepcopy
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/factories.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/factories.py
index f809c0b9bc..77466de97b 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/factories.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/factories.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-"""Factories for testing the Teams API."""
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+"""
+Factories for testing the Teams API.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import uuid4
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_api.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_api.py
index 1de7f31678..80208a7d26 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_api.py
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 """
 Tests for Python APIs of the Teams app
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
-from uuid import uuid4
 import unittest
+from uuid import uuid4
 
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_models.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_models.py
index 3a41ae370e..42fad5d3ce 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_models.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-"""Tests for the teams API at the HTTP request level."""
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+"""
+Tests for the teams API at the HTTP request level.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import itertools
 from contextlib import contextmanager
@@ -8,6 +10,7 @@ from datetime import datetime
 
 import ddt
 import pytz
+import six
 from mock import Mock
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 
@@ -33,6 +36,50 @@ COURSE_KEY1 = CourseKey.from_string('edx/history/1')
 COURSE_KEY2 = CourseKey.from_string('edx/history/2')
 
 
+class TestModelStrings(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
+    """
+    Test `__repr__` and `__str__` methods of this app's models.
+    """
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        super(TestModelStrings, cls).setUpClass()
+        cls.user = UserFactory.create(username="the-user")
+        CourseEnrollmentFactory.create(user=cls.user, course_id="edx/the-course/1")
+        cls.team = CourseTeamFactory(
+            course_id="edx/the-course/1",
+            team_id="the-team",
+            topic_id="the-teamset",
+            name="The Team"
+        )
+        cls.team_membership = cls.team.add_user(cls.user)
+
+    def test_team_repr(self):
+        assert repr(self.team) == (
+            "<CourseTeam"
+            " id=1"
+            " team_id=the-team"
+            " team_size=1"
+            " topic_id=the-teamset"
+            " course_id=edx/the-course/1"
+            ">"
+        )
+
+    def test_team_text(self):
+        assert six.text_type(self.team) == (
+            "The Team in edx/the-course/1"
+        )
+
+    def test_team_membership_repr(self):
+        assert repr(self.team_membership) == (
+            "<CourseTeamMembership id=1 user_id=1 team_id=1>"
+        )
+
+    def test_team_membership_text_type(self):
+        assert six.text_type(self.team_membership) == (
+            "the-user is member of The Team in edx/the-course/1"
+        )
+
+
 @ddt.ddt
 class TeamMembershipTest(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
     """Tests for the TeamMembership model."""
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_serializers.py
index a8956077fb..3a965bdf4d 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_serializers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 """
 Tests for custom Teams Serializers.
 """
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import six
 from django.core.paginator import Paginator
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_views.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_views.py
index eb5ddb4a22..4d4d938d7e 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/tests/test_views.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
-"""Tests for the teams API at the HTTP request level."""
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+"""
+Tests for the teams API at the HTTP request level.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import json
 import unittest
@@ -180,17 +182,17 @@ class TestDashboard(SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
         # Check that initially list of user teams in course one is empty
         course_one_teams_url = reverse('teams_dashboard', args=[self.course.id])
         response = self.client.get(course_one_teams_url)
-        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 0')  # pylint: disable=unicode-format-string
+        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 0')
         # Add user to a course one team
         course_one_team.add_user(self.user)
 
         # Check that list of user teams in course one is not empty, it is one now
         response = self.client.get(course_one_teams_url)
-        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 1')  # pylint: disable=unicode-format-string
+        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 1')
         # Check that list of user teams in course two is still empty
         course_two_teams_url = reverse('teams_dashboard', args=[course_two.id])
         response = self.client.get(course_two_teams_url)
-        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 0')  # pylint: disable=unicode-format-string
+        self.assertContains(response, '"teams": {"count": 0')
 
 
 class TeamAPITestCase(APITestCase, SharedModuleStoreTestCase):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/urls.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/urls.py
index ba4391a6f1..5f4de64f97 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/urls.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/urls.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Defines the URL routes for this app.
 """
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from django.conf.urls import url
 from django.contrib.auth.decorators import login_required
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/utils.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/utils.py
index e116513972..fb134ec691 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/utils.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/utils.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-"""Utility methods related to teams."""
+"""
+Utility methods related to teams.
+"""
 
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 from eventtracking import tracker
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/teams/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/teams/views.py
index 9cda3afd40..b6f270d825 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/teams/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/teams/views.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
-"""HTTP endpoints for the Teams API."""
-
-from __future__ import absolute_import
+"""
+HTTP endpoints for the Teams API.
+"""
+from __future__ import absolute_import, unicode_literals
 
 import logging