diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/discussions/tests/test_views.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/discussions/tests/test_views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7fc6228ad0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/discussions/tests/test_views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+"""
+Test app view logic
+"""
+# pylint: disable=test-inherits-tests
+import unittest
+
+from django.conf import settings
+from django.urls import reverse
+from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
+from rest_framework import status
+from rest_framework.test import APITestCase
+
+from common.djangoapps.student.tests.factories import UserFactory
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.tests.factories import GlobalStaffFactory
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.tests.factories import StaffFactory
+
+
+@unittest.skipUnless(settings.ROOT_URLCONF == 'lms.urls', 'URLs are only configured in LMS')
+class ApiTest(APITestCase):
+    """
+    Test basic API operations
+    """
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self.course_key = CourseKey.from_string('course-v1:Test+Course+Configured')
+        self.url = reverse(
+            'discussions',
+            kwargs={
+                'course_key_string': str(self.course_key),
+            }
+        )
+        self.password = 'password'
+        self.user_student = UserFactory(username='dummy', password=self.password)
+        self.user_staff_course = StaffFactory(course_key=self.course_key, password=self.password)
+        self.user_staff_global = GlobalStaffFactory(password=self.password)
+
+
+class UnauthorizedApiTest(ApiTest):
+    """
+    Logged-out users should _not_ have any access
+    """
+
+    expected_response_code = status.HTTP_401_UNAUTHORIZED
+
+    def test_access_get(self):
+        response = self.client.get(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == self.expected_response_code
+
+    def test_access_patch(self):
+        response = self.client.patch(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == self.expected_response_code
+
+    def test_access_post(self):
+        response = self.client.post(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == self.expected_response_code
+
+    def test_access_put(self):
+        response = self.client.put(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == self.expected_response_code
+
+
+class AuthenticatedApiTest(UnauthorizedApiTest):
+    """
+    Logged-in users should _not_ have any access
+    """
+
+    expected_response_code = status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super().setUp()
+        self._login()
+
+    def _login(self):
+        self.client.login(username=self.user_student.username, password=self.password)
+
+
+class AuthorizedApiTest(AuthenticatedApiTest):
+    """
+    Global Staff should have access to all supported methods
+    """
+
+    expected_response_code = status.HTTP_200_OK
+
+    def _login(self):
+        self.client.login(username=self.user_staff_global.username, password=self.password)
+
+    def test_access_patch(self):
+        response = self.client.patch(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_405_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED
+
+    def test_access_put(self):
+        response = self.client.put(self.url)
+        assert response.status_code == status.HTTP_405_METHOD_NOT_ALLOWED
+
+
+class CourseStaffAuthorizedTest(UnauthorizedApiTest):
+    """
+    Course Staff should have the same access as Global Staff
+
+    TODO: This behavior should be changed to _allow_ access [1]
+    - [1] https://openedx.atlassian.net/browse/TNL-8231
+    """
+
+    def _login(self):
+        self.client.login(username=self.user_staff_course.username, password=self.password)