diff --git a/client/Makefile b/client/Makefile
index 062e7d51..e387858d 100644
--- a/client/Makefile
+++ b/client/Makefile
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ clean:
 
 .PHONY: develop
 develop: node_modules/gatsby
-	npx gatsby develop -p 8000
+	npx gatsby develop -p 80
 
 .PHONY: pretty
 pretty: 
diff --git a/client/src/api.ts b/client/src/api.ts
index 33f6b55f..9b482bbf 100644
--- a/client/src/api.ts
+++ b/client/src/api.ts
@@ -473,13 +473,16 @@ export async function fetchSubject(id: string): Promise<SubjectGQL> {
               id
               name
               description
+              defaultTopics
             }
             topics {
               id
               name
               description
+              categoryParent
             }
             questions {
+              useDefaultTopics
               question {
                 _id
                 question
@@ -494,11 +497,13 @@ export async function fetchSubject(id: string): Promise<SubjectGQL> {
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                defaultTopics
               }
               topics {
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                categoryParent
               }
             }
           }
@@ -538,13 +543,16 @@ export async function fetchSubjects(
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                defaultTopics
               }
               topics {
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                categoryParent
               }
               questions {
+                useDefaultTopics
                 question {
                   _id
                   question
@@ -559,12 +567,14 @@ export async function fetchSubjects(
                   id
                   name
                   description
+                  defaultTopics
                 }
                 topics {
                   id
                   name
                   description
-                }
+                categoryParent
+              }
               }
             }
           }
@@ -609,13 +619,16 @@ export async function updateSubject(
               id
               name
               description
+              defaultTopics
             }
             topics {
               id
               name
-              description
+                categoryParent
+                description
             }
             questions {
+              useDefaultTopics
               question {
                 _id
                 question
@@ -630,11 +643,13 @@ export async function updateSubject(
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                defaultTopics
               }
               topics {
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                categoryParent
               }
             }
           }
@@ -674,6 +689,7 @@ export async function addOrUpdateSubjectQuestions(
             question
             category
             topics
+            useDefaultTopics
           }
         }
       }
@@ -1104,13 +1120,16 @@ export async function fetchMentorById(
               id
               name
               description
+              defaultTopics
             }
             topics {
               id
               name
               description
+              categoryParent
             }
             questions(mentor:$mentor) {
+              useDefaultTopics
               question {
                 _id
                 clientId
@@ -1119,10 +1138,12 @@ export async function fetchMentorById(
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                defaultTopics
               }
               topics {
                 id
                 name
+                categoryParent
                 description
               }
             }
@@ -2222,14 +2243,17 @@ export async function exportMentor(
               topics {
                 id
                 name
+                categoryParent
                 description
               }
               categories {
                 id
                 name
                 description
+                defaultTopics
               }
               questions {
+                useDefaultTopics
                 question {
                   _id
                   question
@@ -2244,11 +2268,13 @@ export async function exportMentor(
                   id
                   name
                   description
+                  defaultTopics
                 }
                 topics {
                   id
                   name
-                  description
+                categoryParent
+                description
                 }
               }
             }
@@ -2358,14 +2384,17 @@ export async function importMentorPreview(
                 topics {
                   id
                   name
-                  description
+                categoryParent
+                description
                 }
                 categories {
                   id
                   name
                   description
+                  defaultTopics
                 }
                 questions {
+                  useDefaultTopics
                   question {
                     _id
                     question
@@ -2380,11 +2409,13 @@ export async function importMentorPreview(
                     id
                     name
                     description
+                    defaultTopics
                   }
                   topics {
                     id
                     name
-                    description
+                categoryParent
+                description
                   }
                 }
               }
@@ -2396,7 +2427,8 @@ export async function importMentorPreview(
                 isRequired
                 isArchived
                 topics {
-                  id
+                categoryParent
+                id
                   name
                   description
                 }
@@ -2404,8 +2436,10 @@ export async function importMentorPreview(
                   id
                   name
                   description
+                  defaultTopics
                 }
                 questions {
+                  useDefaultTopics
                   question {
                     _id
                     question
@@ -2420,11 +2454,13 @@ export async function importMentorPreview(
                     id
                     name
                     description
+                    defaultTopics
                   }
                   topics {
                     id
                     name
-                    description
+                categoryParent
+                description
                   }
                 }
               }
diff --git a/client/src/components/author/category-list-item.tsx b/client/src/components/author/category-list-item.tsx
index 5eb6756a..4b2a7474 100644
--- a/client/src/components/author/category-list-item.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/author/category-list-item.tsx
@@ -16,16 +16,20 @@ import {
   IconButton,
   Collapse,
   ListSubheader,
+  Autocomplete,
+  ListItemText,
+  ListItemSecondaryAction,
 } from "@mui/material";
 import DeleteIcon from "@mui/icons-material/Delete";
 import ExpandMoreIcon from "@mui/icons-material/ExpandMore";
-import { Category } from "types";
+import { Category, Topic } from "types";
 import QuestionListItem from "./question-list-item";
 import { SubjectQuestionGQL } from "types-gql";
 import { onTextInputChanged } from "helpers";
 
 export function CategoryListItem(props: {
   category: Category;
+  topics: Topic[];
   questions: SubjectQuestionGQL[];
   selectedQuestion?: string;
   selectedCategory?: string;
@@ -38,6 +42,7 @@ export function CategoryListItem(props: {
 }): JSX.Element {
   const {
     category,
+    topics,
     questions,
     selectedQuestion,
     selectedCategory,
@@ -121,6 +126,73 @@ export function CategoryListItem(props: {
               shrink: true,
             }}
           />
+          <ListSubheader>Default Topics</ListSubheader>
+          <Autocomplete
+            data-cy="default-topic-input"
+            options={topics.filter(
+              (t) =>
+                !category.defaultTopics.find((id) => id === t.id) &&
+                !t.categoryParent
+            )}
+            getOptionLabel={(option: Topic) => option.name}
+            onChange={(e, v) => {
+              if (!v?.id) {
+                return;
+              }
+              updateCategory({
+                ...category,
+                defaultTopics: [...category.defaultTopics, v.id],
+              });
+            }}
+            style={{ width: "100%" }}
+            renderInput={(params) => (
+              <TextField
+                {...params}
+                variant="outlined"
+                placeholder="Add a default topic"
+              />
+            )}
+          />
+          <List data-cy="default-topics-list">
+            {category.defaultTopics.map((t, i) => {
+              const topic = topics.find((topic) => topic.id === t);
+              if (!topic) {
+                return null;
+              }
+              let topicName =
+                topic.categoryParent === category.id
+                  ? `${category.name}`
+                  : topic.name || "";
+              return (
+                <ListItem key={`topic-${i}`} data-cy={`topic-${i}`}>
+                  <div>
+                    <ListItemText
+                      data-cy="topic-name"
+                      data-test={topicName}
+                      primary={topicName}
+                    />
+                    <ListItemSecondaryAction>
+                      <IconButton
+                        data-cy="delete-topic"
+                        edge="end"
+                        size="small"
+                        onClick={() => {
+                          updateCategory({
+                            ...category,
+                            defaultTopics: category.defaultTopics.filter(
+                              (topicId) => topicId !== topic.id
+                            ),
+                          });
+                        }}
+                      >
+                        <DeleteIcon />
+                      </IconButton>
+                    </ListItemSecondaryAction>
+                  </div>
+                </ListItem>
+              );
+            })}
+          </List>
           <Droppable droppableId={`category-${category.id}`}>
             {(provided) => (
               <List
diff --git a/client/src/components/author/question-edit.tsx b/client/src/components/author/question-edit.tsx
index 2bae2f1c..a44d35fd 100644
--- a/client/src/components/author/question-edit.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/author/question-edit.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import {
 import ParaphraseList from "components/author/question-paraphrase-list";
 import TopicsList from "components/author/question-topics-list";
 import { SubjectQuestionGQL } from "types-gql";
+import questions from "store/slices/questions";
 
 export function QuestionEditCard(props: {
   subjectType: SubjectTypes;
@@ -178,9 +179,17 @@ export function QuestionEditCard(props: {
         <TopicsList
           classes={classes}
           allTopics={props.topics}
+          updateUseDefaultTopics={(val: boolean) =>
+            props.updateQuestion({
+              ...question,
+              useDefaultTopics: val,
+            })
+          }
+          useDefaultTopics={Boolean(question.useDefaultTopics)}
           questionTopics={question.topics.filter((t) =>
             props.topics.map((t) => t.id).includes(t.id)
           )}
+          questionCategory={question.category}
           updateTopics={(t: Topic[]) =>
             props.updateQuestion({ ...question, topics: t })
           }
diff --git a/client/src/components/author/question-topics-list.tsx b/client/src/components/author/question-topics-list.tsx
index cc53ac7d..75b5e027 100644
--- a/client/src/components/author/question-topics-list.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/author/question-topics-list.tsx
@@ -15,20 +15,34 @@ import {
   ListItemText,
   ListItemSecondaryAction,
   ListSubheader,
+  FormControlLabel,
+  Checkbox,
 } from "@mui/material";
 import Autocomplete from "@mui/material/Autocomplete";
 import AddIcon from "@mui/icons-material/Add";
 import DeleteIcon from "@mui/icons-material/Delete";
-import { Topic } from "types";
+import { Category, Topic } from "types";
+import { RowDiv } from "components/styled-components";
 
 export function TopicsList(props: {
   classes: Record<string, string>;
+  useDefaultTopics: boolean;
+  updateUseDefaultTopics: (val: boolean) => void;
   allTopics: Topic[];
   questionTopics: Topic[];
+  questionCategory?: Category;
   updateTopics: (val: Topic[]) => void;
 }): JSX.Element {
-  const { classes, questionTopics, allTopics } = props;
+  const {
+    classes,
+    questionTopics,
+    allTopics,
+    useDefaultTopics,
+    updateUseDefaultTopics,
+    questionCategory,
+  } = props;
   const [topicSearch, setTopicSearch] = useState<Topic>();
+  console.log(questionCategory);
 
   function addTopic(val: Topic) {
     props.updateTopics([...questionTopics, val]);
@@ -54,6 +68,40 @@ export function TopicsList(props: {
     >
       <List data-cy="question-topics-list">
         <ListSubheader>Topics</ListSubheader>
+        {questionCategory ? (
+          <RowDiv>
+            <FormControlLabel
+              label="Use Default Topics"
+              style={{ height: "fit-content", textAlign: "center", margin: 0 }}
+              control={
+                <Checkbox
+                  checked={useDefaultTopics}
+                  indeterminate={false}
+                  onChange={(e) => {
+                    updateUseDefaultTopics(e.target.checked);
+                  }}
+                />
+              }
+            />
+          </RowDiv>
+        ) : undefined}
+        {useDefaultTopics &&
+          questionCategory?.defaultTopics?.map((t, i) => {
+            const topicName =
+              allTopics.find((topic) => topic.id === t)?.name ||
+              questionCategory.name;
+            return (
+              <ListItem key={`topic-${i}`} data-cy={`topic-${i}`}>
+                <div>
+                  <ListItemText
+                    data-cy="topic-name"
+                    data-test={`(Default) ${topicName}`}
+                    primary={`(Default) ${topicName}`}
+                  />
+                </div>
+              </ListItem>
+            );
+          })}
         {questionTopics.map((t, i) => {
           const topicName =
             allTopics.find((topic) => topic.id === t.id)?.name || "";
@@ -83,7 +131,12 @@ export function TopicsList(props: {
       <div className={classes.row} style={{ marginLeft: 5 }}>
         <Autocomplete
           data-cy="topic-input"
-          options={allTopics}
+          options={allTopics.filter(
+            (t) =>
+              !questionCategory?.defaultTopics?.find((qt) => qt === t.id) &&
+              !questionTopics.find((qt) => qt.id === t.id) &&
+              !t.categoryParent // category specific topic should not be added
+          )}
           getOptionLabel={(option: Topic) => option.name}
           onChange={(e, v) => {
             setTopicSearch(v || undefined);
diff --git a/client/src/components/author/questions-list.tsx b/client/src/components/author/questions-list.tsx
index 4c708e90..c6d70497 100644
--- a/client/src/components/author/questions-list.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/author/questions-list.tsx
@@ -139,6 +139,7 @@ export function QuestionsList(props: {
                 >
                   <CategoryListItem
                     category={category}
+                    topics={props.topics}
                     questions={questions.filter(
                       (q) => q.category?.id === category.id
                     )}
diff --git a/client/src/components/author/topics-list.tsx b/client/src/components/author/topics-list.tsx
index 87c4b468..2ed22449 100644
--- a/client/src/components/author/topics-list.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/author/topics-list.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,12 @@ export function TopicCard(props: {
             data-test={topic.name}
             label="Topic"
             variant="outlined"
-            value={topic.name}
+            value={
+              Boolean(topic.categoryParent)
+                ? `(Category Default) ${topic.name}`
+                : topic.name
+            }
+            disabled={Boolean(topic.categoryParent)}
             onChange={(e) =>
               onTextInputChanged(e, () => {
                 props.editTopic({ ...topic, name: e.target.value });
@@ -111,8 +116,9 @@ export function TopicsList(props: {
   removeTopic: (val: Topic) => void;
   moveTopic: (toMove: number, moveTo: number) => void;
 }): JSX.Element {
-  const { classes } = props;
+  const { classes, topics } = props;
   const { height: windowHeight } = useWithWindowSize();
+  const topicsToDisplay = topics.filter((t) => !t.categoryParent);
 
   function onDragEnd(result: DropResult) {
     if (!result.destination) {
@@ -133,7 +139,7 @@ export function TopicsList(props: {
               style={{ height: windowHeight - 300, overflow: "auto" }}
               {...provided.droppableProps}
             >
-              {props.topics.map((t, i) => (
+              {topics.map((t, i) => (
                 <Draggable
                   index={i}
                   key={`topic-${i}`}
diff --git a/client/src/components/styled-components.tsx b/client/src/components/styled-components.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef647ffd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/styled-components.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+/*
+This software is Copyright ©️ 2020 The University of Southern California. All Rights Reserved. 
+Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for educational, research and non-profit purposes, without fee, and without a written agreement is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and subject to the full license file found in the root of this software deliverable. Permission to make commercial use of this software may be obtained by contacting:  USC Stevens Center for Innovation University of Southern California 1150 S. Olive Street, Suite 2300, Los Angeles, CA 90115, USA Email: accounting@stevens.usc.edu
+
+The full terms of this copyright and license should always be found in the root directory of this software deliverable as "license.txt" and if these terms are not found with this software, please contact the USC Stevens Center for the full license.
+*/
+import styled from "styled-components";
+export const ChatHeader = styled.span`
+  font-weight: bold;
+  font-size: 1.5rem;
+`;
+
+export const ColumnDiv = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+`;
+
+export const ColumnCenterDiv = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
+`;
+
+export const RowDivSB = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  width: 100%;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+`;
+
+export const RowDiv = styled.div`
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: row;
+  align-items: center;
+`;
+
+export const JsonDisplay = styled.pre`
+  white-space: pre-wrap;
+  overflow-wrap: break-word;
+  padding: 10px;
+`;
+
+export const BoldSpan = styled.span`
+  font-weight: bold;
+`;
+
+export const SmallGreyText = styled.span`
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  color: grey;
+`;
diff --git a/client/src/hooks/graphql/use-with-subject.tsx b/client/src/hooks/graphql/use-with-subject.tsx
index 8ec45ed4..af944c18 100644
--- a/client/src/hooks/graphql/use-with-subject.tsx
+++ b/client/src/hooks/graphql/use-with-subject.tsx
@@ -118,15 +118,22 @@ export function useWithSubject(
     if (!editedData) {
       return;
     }
+    const newCategory: Category = {
+      id: uuid(),
+      name: "",
+      description: "",
+      defaultTopics: [],
+    };
+    const newTopic: Topic = {
+      id: uuid(),
+      name: "",
+      description: "",
+      categoryParent: newCategory.id,
+    };
+    newCategory.defaultTopics.push(newTopic.id);
     editData({
-      categories: [
-        ...editedData.categories,
-        {
-          id: uuid(),
-          name: "",
-          description: "",
-        },
-      ],
+      categories: [...editedData.categories, newCategory],
+      topics: [...editedData.topics, newTopic],
     });
   }
 
@@ -228,6 +235,7 @@ export function useWithSubject(
             ? editedData.categories.find((c) => c.id == args.categoryId)
             : undefined,
           topics: [],
+          useDefaultTopics: true,
         },
       ],
     });
diff --git a/client/src/types-gql.ts b/client/src/types-gql.ts
index f1d7169e..aada965f 100644
--- a/client/src/types-gql.ts
+++ b/client/src/types-gql.ts
@@ -123,12 +123,14 @@ export interface SubjectQuestionGQL {
   question: Question;
   category?: Category;
   topics: Topic[];
+  useDefaultTopics?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface AddOrUpdateQuestionGQL {
   question: string;
   category?: string;
   topics: string[];
+  useDefaultTopics?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface ExternalVideoIdsGQL {
diff --git a/client/src/types.ts b/client/src/types.ts
index 1910ff65..0145003b 100644
--- a/client/src/types.ts
+++ b/client/src/types.ts
@@ -265,12 +265,14 @@ export interface Category {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   description: string;
+  defaultTopics: string[];
 }
 
 export interface Topic {
   id: string;
   name: string;
   description: string;
+  categoryParent?: string;
 }
 
 export interface Question {