The mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at Pacific Lutheran University is to train students in developing a systemically-oriented, contextually competent worldview that is implemented with a wide range of clinical concerns impacting individuals, couples, and families. Students participate in an intensive 25-hour-per-week, four or five semester clinical experience which includes 500 hours of therapy under close supervision in an on-campus clinic and in a community placement. The on-campus clinic and five off-campus sites offer all students a managed care clinical experience. Academic courses are generally scheduled at 3:00 p.m. to allow students to work full-time during their first academic year while they prepare for their clinical experience. Because faculty recognize that adult students bring expertise with them, students are highly involved in learning via exercises, classroom discussion, and real-life activities. The program emphasizes the application of theory to practice, competence in working with diverse and marginalized populations, rigorous evaluation, and direct supervision of one's clinical competency.