diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
index 9cfc30f06e..42ba2b1934 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/course_module.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class CourseDescriptor(SequenceDescriptor):
 
     @property
     def start_date_text(self):
-        return time.strftime("%m/%d/%y", self.start)
+        return time.strftime("%b %d, %Y", self.start)
 
     @property
     def title(self):