diff --git a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.jsx b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.jsx
index f94bf3497..7c40f9daf 100644
--- a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.jsx
+++ b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.jsx
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@ import { useParams } from 'react-router-dom';
 import { Container, Layout, Stack } from '@openedx/paragon';
 import { useIntl, injectIntl } from '@edx/frontend-platform/i18n';
 import { ErrorAlert } from '@edx/frontend-lib-content-components';
+import { Warning as WarningIcon } from '@openedx/paragon/icons';
 
 import { getProcessingNotification } from '../generic/processing-notification/data/selectors';
 import SubHeader from '../generic/sub-header/SubHeader';
 import { RequestStatus } from '../data/constants';
 import getPageHeadTitle from '../generic/utils';
+import AlertMessage from '../generic/alert-message';
 import ProcessingNotification from '../generic/processing-notification';
 import InternetConnectionAlert from '../generic/internet-connection-alert';
 import Loading from '../generic/Loading';
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ const CourseUnit = ({ courseId }) => {
     savingStatus,
     isTitleEditFormOpen,
     isErrorAlert,
+    isLastUnpublishedVersion,
     isInternetConnectionAlertFailed,
     unitXBlockActions,
     handleTitleEditSubmit,
@@ -94,6 +97,13 @@ const CourseUnit = ({ courseId }) => {
             xl={[{ span: 9 }, { span: 3 }]}
           >
             <Layout.Element>
+              {isLastUnpublishedVersion && (
+                <AlertMessage
+                  title={intl.formatMessage(messages.alertUnpublishedVersion)}
+                  variant="warning"
+                  icon={WarningIcon}
+                />
+              )}
               <Stack gap={4} className="mb-4">
                 {courseVerticalChildren.children.map(({ name, blockId: id, shouldScroll }) => (
                   <CourseXBlock
diff --git a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.jsx b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.jsx
index 75d657862..a6ceecb64 100644
--- a/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.jsx
+++ b/src/course-unit/CourseUnit.test.jsx
@@ -31,12 +31,13 @@ import {
   courseVerticalChildrenMock,
 } from './__mocks__';
 import { executeThunk } from '../utils';
-import CourseUnit from './CourseUnit';
 import headerNavigationsMessages from './header-navigations/messages';
 import headerTitleMessages from './header-title/messages';
 import courseSequenceMessages from './course-sequence/messages';
 import sidebarMessages from './sidebar/messages';
 import { extractCourseUnitId } from './sidebar/utils';
+import CourseUnit from './CourseUnit';
+import messages from './messages';
 
 import deleteModalMessages from '../generic/delete-modal/messages';
 import courseXBlockMessages from './course-xblock/messages';
@@ -353,6 +354,36 @@ describe('<CourseUnit />', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('should display a warning alert for unpublished course unit version', async () => {
+    const { getByRole } = render(<RootWrapper />);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      const unpublishedAlert = getByRole('alert', { class: 'course-unit-unpublished-alert' });
+      expect(unpublishedAlert).toHaveTextContent(messages.alertUnpublishedVersion.defaultMessage);
+      expect(unpublishedAlert).toHaveClass('alert-warning');
+    });
+  });
+
+  it('should not display an unpublished alert for a course unit with explicit staff lock and unpublished status', async () => {
+    const { queryByRole } = render(<RootWrapper />);
+
+    axiosMock
+      .onGet(getCourseUnitApiUrl(courseId))
+      .reply(200, {
+        ...courseUnitIndexMock,
+        has_explicit_staff_lock: true,
+        release_date: null,
+        published: false,
+      });
+
+    await executeThunk(fetchCourseUnitQuery(courseId), store.dispatch);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      const unpublishedAlert = queryByRole('alert', { class: 'course-unit-unpublished-alert' });
+      expect(unpublishedAlert).toBeNull();
+    });
+  });
+
   it('checks whether xblock is deleted when corresponding delete button is clicked', async () => {
     axiosMock
       .onDelete(getXBlockBaseApiUrl(courseVerticalChildrenMock.children[0].block_id))
diff --git a/src/course-unit/hooks.jsx b/src/course-unit/hooks.jsx
index b99bfaed1..f6f883828 100644
--- a/src/course-unit/hooks.jsx
+++ b/src/course-unit/hooks.jsx
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export const useCourseUnit = ({ courseId, blockId }) => {
   const navigate = useNavigate();
   const isTitleEditFormOpen = useSelector(state => state.courseUnit.isTitleEditFormOpen);
   const isQueryPending = useSelector(state => state.courseUnit.isQueryPending);
+  const { hasExplicitStaffLock, published, releaseDate } = courseUnit;
+  const isLastUnpublishedVersion = !hasExplicitStaffLock && published && releaseDate;
 
   const unitTitle = courseUnit.metadata?.displayName || '';
   const sequenceId = courseUnit.ancestorInfo?.ancestors[0].id;
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ export const useCourseUnit = ({ courseId, blockId }) => {
     savingStatus,
     isQueryPending,
     isErrorAlert,
+    isLastUnpublishedVersion,
     isLoading: loadingStatus.fetchUnitLoadingStatus === RequestStatus.IN_PROGRESS
       || loadingStatus.courseSectionVerticalLoadingStatus === RequestStatus.IN_PROGRESS,
     isTitleEditFormOpen,
diff --git a/src/course-unit/messages.js b/src/course-unit/messages.js
index 42533513e..ba27b0fb7 100644
--- a/src/course-unit/messages.js
+++ b/src/course-unit/messages.js
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ const messages = defineMessages({
     id: 'course-authoring.course-unit.general.alert.error.description',
     defaultMessage: 'Unable to {actionName} {type}. Please try again.',
   },
+  alertUnpublishedVersion: {
+    id: 'course-authoring.course-unit.general.alert.unpublished-version.description',
+    defaultMessage: 'Note: The last published version of this unit is live. By publishing changes you will change the student experience.',
+  },
 });
 
 export default messages;