Abstract
This paper examines the current vision of the profession of social work embodied in its great and little traditions. It advocates incorporating the great and little traditions of our profession in the conceptualization of the educational continuum. It advocates use of a competence-oriented model to define outcomes for each level of the continuum and to design educational programs to meet those outcomes. Finally, it advocates blending the great and little traditions of the profession in the educational designs developed at each level.