diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
index 261e19456c..e20f1e9934 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
@@ -486,10 +486,12 @@ def _section_membership(course, access, is_white_label):
 def _section_cohort_management(course, access):
     """ Provide data for the corresponding cohort management section """
     course_key = course.id
+    ccx_enabled = hasattr(course_key, 'ccx')
     section_data = {
         'section_key': 'cohort_management',
         'section_display_name': _('Cohorts'),
         'access': access,
+        'ccx_is_enabled': ccx_enabled,
         'course_cohort_settings_url': reverse(
             'course_cohort_settings',
             kwargs={'course_key_string': unicode(course_key)}
diff --git a/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohort_form.js b/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohort_form.js
index 1d7c987232..307ee2ac85 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohort_form.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohort_form.js
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
                         cohort: this.model,
                         isDefaultCohort: this.isDefault(this.model.get('name')),
                         contentGroups: this.contentGroups,
-                        studioGroupConfigurationsUrl: this.context.studioGroupConfigurationsUrl
+                        studioGroupConfigurationsUrl: this.context.studioGroupConfigurationsUrl,
+                        isCcxEnabled: this.context.isCcxEnabled
                     }));
                     return this;
                 },
diff --git a/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohorts_dashboard_factory.js b/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohorts_dashboard_factory.js
index af63d0c676..e85ade7bdf 100644
--- a/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohorts_dashboard_factory.js
+++ b/lms/static/js/groups/views/cohorts_dashboard_factory.js
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
                         discussionTopicsSettingsModel: discussionTopicsSettings,
                         uploadCohortsCsvUrl: cohortManagementElement.data('upload_cohorts_csv_url'),
                         verifiedTrackCohortingUrl: cohortManagementElement.data('verified_track_cohorting_url'),
-                        studioGroupConfigurationsUrl: studioGroupConfigurationsUrl
+                        studioGroupConfigurationsUrl: studioGroupConfigurationsUrl,
+                        isCcxEnabled: cohortManagementElement.data('is_ccx_enabled')
                     }
                 });
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort-form.underscore b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort-form.underscore
index 9f41c248ad..9321e29f15 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort-form.underscore
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort-form.underscore
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
             var cohort_name = cohort.get('name');
             var cohort_name_value = isNewCohort ? '' : cohort_name;
             var placeholder_value = isNewCohort ? gettext('Enter the name of the cohort') : '';
-
             %>
             <div class="form-field">
                 <div class="cohort-management-settings-form-name field field-text">
@@ -126,7 +125,11 @@
                                             }
                                         )
                                         %>
-                                        <a class="link-to-group-settings" href="<%- studioGroupConfigurationsUrl %>"><%- gettext("Create a content group") %></a>
+                                        <% if (isCcxEnabled) { %>
+                                            <%- gettext("Only the parent course staff of a CCX can create content groups.") %>
+                                        <% } else { %>
+                                            <a class="link-to-group-settings" href="<%- studioGroupConfigurationsUrl %>"><%- gettext("Create a content group") %></a>
+                                        <% } %>
                                     </p>
                                 </div>
                             </div>
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort_management.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort_management.html
index adf74640de..8e7bad3439 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort_management.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/cohort_management.html
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from openedx.core.djangoapps.course_groups.partition_scheme import get_cohorted_
      data-course_cohort_settings_url="${section_data['course_cohort_settings_url']}"
      data-discussion-topics-url="${section_data['discussion_topics_url']}"
      data-verified_track_cohorting_url="${section_data['verified_track_cohorting_url']}"
+     data-is_ccx_enabled="${'true' if section_data['ccx_is_enabled'] else 'false'}"
 >
 </div>