diff --git a/cms/envs/aws.py b/cms/envs/aws.py
index 1a3bfa6e2e..5b4522beb7 100644
--- a/cms/envs/aws.py
+++ b/cms/envs/aws.py
@@ -109,6 +109,11 @@ if STATIC_URL_BASE:
 # DEFAULT_COURSE_ABOUT_IMAGE_URL specifies the default image to show for courses that don't provide one
 DEFAULT_COURSE_ABOUT_IMAGE_URL = ENV_TOKENS.get('DEFAULT_COURSE_ABOUT_IMAGE_URL', DEFAULT_COURSE_ABOUT_IMAGE_URL)
 
+DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG = ENV_TOKENS.get(
+    'DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG',
+    DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG
+)
+
 # DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE specifies if the course is available for mobile by default
 DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE = ENV_TOKENS.get(
     'DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE',
diff --git a/cms/envs/common.py b/cms/envs/common.py
index f7d289a7d2..7b6de3b6ec 100644
--- a/cms/envs/common.py
+++ b/cms/envs/common.py
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ from lms.envs.common import (
     PASSWORD_RESET_SUPPORT_LINK,
     ACTIVATION_EMAIL_SUPPORT_LINK,
 
+    DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG,
     DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE,
 
     CONTACT_EMAIL,
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index 97ea6d0ab9..2b450e5a05 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ CATALOG_VISIBILITY_CATALOG_AND_ABOUT = "both"
 CATALOG_VISIBILITY_ABOUT = "about"
 CATALOG_VISIBILITY_NONE = "none"
 
+DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG = getattr(
+    settings,
+    'DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG',
+    'both'
+)
+
 DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE = getattr(settings, 'DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE', False)
 
 
@@ -671,7 +677,7 @@ class CourseFields(object):
             "of three values: 'both' (show in catalog and allow access to about page), 'about' (only allow access "
             "to about page), 'none' (do not show in catalog and do not allow access to an about page)."
         ),
-        default=CATALOG_VISIBILITY_CATALOG_AND_ABOUT,
+        default=DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG,
         scope=Scope.settings,
         values=[
             {"display_name": _("Both"), "value": CATALOG_VISIBILITY_CATALOG_AND_ABOUT},
diff --git a/lms/envs/aws.py b/lms/envs/aws.py
index b18abdedac..cf885520b7 100644
--- a/lms/envs/aws.py
+++ b/lms/envs/aws.py
@@ -768,6 +768,11 @@ COURSE_ABOUT_VISIBILITY_PERMISSION = ENV_TOKENS.get(
     COURSE_ABOUT_VISIBILITY_PERMISSION
 )
 
+DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG = ENV_TOKENS.get(
+    'DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG',
+    DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG
+)
+
 DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE = ENV_TOKENS.get(
     'DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE',
     DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE
diff --git a/lms/envs/common.py b/lms/envs/common.py
index 776695175a..be33a77734 100644
--- a/lms/envs/common.py
+++ b/lms/envs/common.py
@@ -2995,6 +2995,7 @@ COURSE_CATALOG_VISIBILITY_PERMISSION = 'see_exists'
 # visible. We default this to the legacy permission 'see_exists'.
 COURSE_ABOUT_VISIBILITY_PERMISSION = 'see_exists'
 
+DEFAULT_COURSE_VISIBILITY_IN_CATALOG = "both"
 DEFAULT_MOBILE_AVAILABLE = True
 
 # Enrollment API Cache Timeout