diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_index.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_index.py
index 4c4c736fb719..496b9b70569f 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_index.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_course_index.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 from contentstore.tests.utils import CourseTestCase
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import loc_mapper
-from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory
+from xmodule.modulestore.tests.factories import CourseFactory, ItemFactory
 from xmodule.modulestore import parsers
 
 class TestCourseIndex(CourseTestCase):
@@ -83,3 +83,49 @@ def test_course_staff_access(self):
 
         # test access
         self.check_index_and_outline(course_staff_client)
+
+    def test_json_responses(self):
+        outline_url = self.course_locator.url_reverse('course/')
+        chapter = ItemFactory.create(parent_location=self.course.location, category='chapter', display_name="Week 1")
+        lesson = ItemFactory.create(parent_location=chapter.location, category='sequential', display_name="Lesson 1")
+        subsection = ItemFactory.create(parent_location=lesson.location, category='vertical', display_name='Subsection 1')
+        ItemFactory.create(parent_location=subsection.location, category="video", display_name="My Video")
+
+        resp = self.client.get(outline_url, HTTP_ACCEPT='application/json')
+        json_response = json.loads(resp.content)
+
+        # First spot check some values in the root response
+        self.assertEqual(json_response['category'], 'course')
+        self.assertEqual(json_response['id'], 'MITx.999.Robot_Super_Course/branch/draft/block/Robot_Super_Course')
+        self.assertEqual(json_response['display_name'], 'Robot Super Course')
+        self.assertTrue(json_response['is_container'])
+        self.assertFalse(json_response['is_draft'])
+
+        # Now verify that the first child
+        children = json_response['children']
+        self.assertTrue(len(children) > 0)
+        first_child_response = children[0]
+        self.assertEqual(first_child_response['category'], 'chapter')
+        self.assertEqual(first_child_response['id'], 'MITx.999.Robot_Super_Course/branch/draft/block/Week_1')
+        self.assertEqual(first_child_response['display_name'], 'Week 1')
+        self.assertTrue(first_child_response['is_container'])
+        self.assertFalse(first_child_response['is_draft'])
+        self.assertTrue(len(first_child_response['children']) > 0)
+
+        # Finally, validate the entire response for consistency
+        self.assert_correct_json_response(json_response)
+
+    def assert_correct_json_response(self, json_response):
+        """
+        Asserts that the JSON response is syntactically consistent
+        """
+        self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['display_name'])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['id'])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['category'])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['is_draft'])
+        self.assertIsNotNone(json_response['is_container'])
+        if json_response['is_container']:
+            for child_response in json_response['children']:
+                self.assert_correct_json_response(child_response)
+        else:
+            self.assertFalse('children' in json_response)
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
index 5b3415f071b1..89c5a33db779 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views/course.py
@@ -100,9 +100,10 @@ def course_handler(request, tag=None, package_id=None, branch=None, version_guid
     DELETE
         json: delete this branch from this course (leaving off /branch/draft would imply delete the course)
     """
-    if 'application/json' in request.META.get('HTTP_ACCEPT', 'application/json'):
+    response_format = request.REQUEST.get('format', 'html')
+    if response_format == 'json' or 'application/json' in request.META.get('HTTP_ACCEPT', 'application/json'):
         if request.method == 'GET':
-            raise NotImplementedError('coming soon')
+            return JsonResponse(_course_json(request, package_id, branch, version_guid, block))
         elif request.method == 'POST':  # not sure if this is only post. If one will have ids, it goes after access
             return create_new_course(request)
         elif not has_course_access(
@@ -125,6 +126,37 @@ def course_handler(request, tag=None, package_id=None, branch=None, version_guid
         return HttpResponseNotFound()
 
 
+@login_required
+def _course_json(request, package_id, branch, version_guid, block):
+    """
+    Returns a JSON overview of a course
+    """
+    __, course = _get_locator_and_course(
+        package_id, branch, version_guid, block, request.user, depth=None
+    )
+    return _xmodule_json(course, course.location.course_id)
+
+
+def _xmodule_json(xmodule, course_id):
+    """
+    Returns a JSON overview of an XModule
+    """
+    locator = loc_mapper().translate_location(
+        course_id, xmodule.location, published=False, add_entry_if_missing=True
+    )
+    is_container = xmodule.has_children
+    result = {
+        'display_name': xmodule.display_name,
+        'id': unicode(locator),
+        'category': xmodule.category,
+        'is_draft': getattr(xmodule, 'is_draft', False),
+        'is_container': is_container,
+    }
+    if is_container:
+        result['children'] = [_xmodule_json(child, course_id) for child in xmodule.get_children()]
+    return result
+
+
 @login_required
 @ensure_csrf_cookie
 def course_listing(request):