diff --git a/frontend/test/components/TopicCard/Desc.spec.js b/frontend/test/components/TopicCard/Desc.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3303d7b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/test/components/TopicCard/Desc.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+/* global describe, it */
+import React from 'react'
+import { expect } from 'chai'
+import { shallow } from 'enzyme'
+import sinon from 'sinon'
+
+import Desc from '../../../src/components/TopicCard/Desc.js'
+
+function render(props) {
+  return shallow(<Desc {...props} />)
+}
+
+function sharedAssertions(wrapper, desc, { descProp }) {
+  it('renders the correct wrapping html', function() {
+    expect(wrapper.find('.scroll').length).to.equal(1)
+    expect(wrapper.find('.scroll').find('.desc').length).to.equal(1)
+  })
+  it('renders the description', function() {
+    expect(wrapper
+      .find('.scroll')
+      .find('.desc')
+      .find('.riek_desc')
+      .prop(descProp)).to.equal(desc)
+  })
+}
+
+describe('TopicCard/Desc', function() {
+  const desc = 'sample description'
+  describe('not authorized to edit', function() {
+    const wrapper = render({ authorizedToEdit: false, desc })
+    sharedAssertions(wrapper, desc, { descProp: 'children' })
+  })
+
+  describe('authorized to edit', function() {
+    const onChange = sinon.spy()
+    const wrapper = render({ authorizedToEdit: true, desc, onChange })
+    sharedAssertions(wrapper, desc, { descProp: 'value' })
+
+    it('renders mdSupport', function() {
+      const mdSupport = wrapper.find('.desc').childAt(1)
+      expect(mdSupport.prop('className')).to.equal('mdSupport')
+      expect(mdSupport.prop('href')).to.include('commonmark.org/help')
+      expect(mdSupport.prop('target')).to.equal('_blank')
+    })
+
+    it('renders clearfloat', function() {
+      const clearfloat = wrapper.find('.desc').childAt(2)
+      expect(clearfloat.prop('className')).to.equal('clearfloat')
+    })
+
+    const textArea = wrapper.find('.riek_desc')
+    it('has the correct classEditing', function() {
+      expect(textArea.prop('classEditing')).to.equal('riek-editing')
+    })
+    it('has 6 rows', function() {
+      expect(textArea.prop('rows')).to.equal('6')
+    })
+
+    describe('defaultProps', function() {
+      describe('desc is present', function() {
+        const textArea = render({
+          authorizedToEdit: true, desc: '**sample description 2**'
+        }).find('.riek_desc')
+
+        // TODO I'd prefer to be mocking Util.mdToHTML
+        it('converts markdown to html', function() {
+          expect(textArea.prop('defaultProps').dangerouslySetInnerHTML.__html)
+            .to.equal('<p><strong>sample description 2</strong></p>\n')
+        })
+      })
+      describe('desc is not present', function() {
+        const textArea = render({ authorizedToEdit: true, desc: null })
+          .find('.riek_desc')
+        it('renders placeholder message', function() {
+          expect(textArea.prop('defaultProps').dangerouslySetInnerHTML.__html)
+            .to.equal('<p class="emptyDesc">Edit the description... (supports markdown)</p>')
+        })
+      })
+    })
+
+    describe('editProps', function() {
+      const ENTER = 13
+      const target = { value: 'new value' }
+      it('does not call onChange on Shift+Enter', function() {
+        textArea.prop('editProps').onKeyPress({
+          shiftKey: true, which: ENTER
+        })
+        expect(onChange.notCalled).to.equal(true)
+      })
+
+      it('calls onChange on ENTER', function() {
+        textArea.prop('editProps').onKeyPress({
+          which: ENTER, preventDefault: () => {}, target
+        })
+        expect(onChange.calledWith({ desc: 'new value' })).to.equal(true)
+      })
+    })
+  })
+})