diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1885188..e160b23 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Features
 
+- Added support for struct (dict) options via the new `kStruct` DataType enum
+  value, enabling complex nested data to be declared and passed as discipline
+  options (#49).
 - Added discrete variable support throughout the stack.  Disciplines can
   now declare discrete inputs/outputs via `add_discrete_input` /
   `add_discrete_output`.  Discrete data is serialized as
diff --git a/philote_mdo/general/discipline.py b/philote_mdo/general/discipline.py
index f5930cf..ae1f020 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/general/discipline.py
+++ b/philote_mdo/general/discipline.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def add_option(self, name, type):
             the name of the option being added
         type : string
             the data type of the option. acceptable types are 'bool', 'int',
-            'float'
+            'float', 'str', 'dict'
         """
         self.options_list[name] = type
 
diff --git a/philote_mdo/general/discipline_client.py b/philote_mdo/general/discipline_client.py
index 385d077..13b206f 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/general/discipline_client.py
+++ b/philote_mdo/general/discipline_client.py
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ def get_available_options(self):
                 type_str = "float"
             if val == data.kString:
                 type_str = "str"
+            if val == data.kStruct:
+                type_str = "dict"
             self.options_list[name] = type_str
 
     def send_options(self, options):
diff --git a/philote_mdo/general/discipline_server.py b/philote_mdo/general/discipline_server.py
index bde20a4..d784b18 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/general/discipline_server.py
+++ b/philote_mdo/general/discipline_server.py
@@ -100,6 +100,8 @@ def GetAvailableOptions(self, request, context):
                 type = data.kDouble
             elif val == "str":
                 type = data.kString
+            elif val == "dict":
+                type = data.kStruct
             else:
                 raise ValueError(
                     "Invalid value for discipline option '{}'".format(name)
diff --git a/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.py b/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.py
index 8334dc1..b6029b2 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.py
+++ b/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 _runtime_version.ValidateProtobufRuntimeVersion(_runtime_version.Domain.PUBLIC, 5, 27, 2, '', 'data.proto')
 _sym_db = _symbol_database.Default()
 from google.protobuf import struct_pb2 as google_dot_protobuf_dot_struct__pb2
-DESCRIPTOR = _descriptor_pool.Default().AddSerializedFile(b'\n\ndata.proto\x12\x07philote\x1a\x1cgoogle/protobuf/struct.proto"}\n\x14DisciplineProperties\x12\x12\n\ncontinuous\x18\x01 \x01(\x08\x12\x16\n\x0edifferentiable\x18\x02 \x01(\x08\x12\x1a\n\x12provides_gradients\x18\x03 \x01(\x08\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x04 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x05 \x01(\t"#\n\rStreamOptions\x12\x12\n\nnum_double\x18\x01 \x01(\x03"?\n\x0bOptionsList\x12\x0f\n\x07options\x18\x01 \x03(\t\x12\x1f\n\x04type\x18\x02 \x03(\x0e2\x11.philote.DataType"=\n\x11DisciplineOptions\x12(\n\x07options\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b2\x17.google.protobuf.Struct"c\n\x10VariableMetaData\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x01 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x04 \x03(\x03\x12\r\n\x05units\x18\x05 \x01(\t"@\n\x10PartialsMetaData\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07subname\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x03 \x03(\x03"u\n\x05Array\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07subname\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05start\x18\x03 \x01(\x03\x12\x0b\n\x03end\x18\x04 \x01(\x03\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x05 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12\x0c\n\x04data\x18\x06 \x03(\x01"l\n\x10DiscreteVariable\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x02 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12%\n\x05value\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b2\x16.google.protobuf.Value"q\n\x0fVariableMessage\x12$\n\ncontinuous\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b2\x0e.philote.ArrayH\x00\x12-\n\x08discrete\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b2\x19.philote.DiscreteVariableH\x00B\t\n\x07payload*9\n\x08DataType\x12\t\n\x05kBool\x10\x00\x12\x08\n\x04kInt\x10\x01\x12\x0b\n\x07kDouble\x10\x02\x12\x0b\n\x07kString\x10\x03*m\n\x0cVariableType\x12\n\n\x06kInput\x10\x00\x12\x12\n\x0ekDiscreteInput\x10\x01\x12\r\n\tkResidual\x10\x02\x12\x0b\n\x07kOutput\x10\x03\x12\x13\n\x0fkDiscreteOutput\x10\x04\x12\x0c\n\x08kPartial\x10\x05B\x11\n\x0forg.philote.mdob\x06proto3')
+DESCRIPTOR = _descriptor_pool.Default().AddSerializedFile(b'\n\ndata.proto\x12\x07philote\x1a\x1cgoogle/protobuf/struct.proto"}\n\x14DisciplineProperties\x12\x12\n\ncontinuous\x18\x01 \x01(\x08\x12\x16\n\x0edifferentiable\x18\x02 \x01(\x08\x12\x1a\n\x12provides_gradients\x18\x03 \x01(\x08\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x04 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07version\x18\x05 \x01(\t"#\n\rStreamOptions\x12\x12\n\nnum_double\x18\x01 \x01(\x03"?\n\x0bOptionsList\x12\x0f\n\x07options\x18\x01 \x03(\t\x12\x1f\n\x04type\x18\x02 \x03(\x0e2\x11.philote.DataType"=\n\x11DisciplineOptions\x12(\n\x07options\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b2\x17.google.protobuf.Struct"c\n\x10VariableMetaData\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x01 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x03 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x04 \x03(\x03\x12\r\n\x05units\x18\x05 \x01(\t"@\n\x10PartialsMetaData\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07subname\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05shape\x18\x03 \x03(\x03"u\n\x05Array\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12\x0f\n\x07subname\x18\x02 \x01(\t\x12\r\n\x05start\x18\x03 \x01(\x03\x12\x0b\n\x03end\x18\x04 \x01(\x03\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x05 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12\x0c\n\x04data\x18\x06 \x03(\x01"l\n\x10DiscreteVariable\x12\x0c\n\x04name\x18\x01 \x01(\t\x12#\n\x04type\x18\x02 \x01(\x0e2\x15.philote.VariableType\x12%\n\x05value\x18\x03 \x01(\x0b2\x16.google.protobuf.Value"q\n\x0fVariableMessage\x12$\n\ncontinuous\x18\x01 \x01(\x0b2\x0e.philote.ArrayH\x00\x12-\n\x08discrete\x18\x02 \x01(\x0b2\x19.philote.DiscreteVariableH\x00B\t\n\x07payload*F\n\x08DataType\x12\t\n\x05kBool\x10\x00\x12\x08\n\x04kInt\x10\x01\x12\x0b\n\x07kDouble\x10\x02\x12\x0b\n\x07kString\x10\x03\x12\x0b\n\x07kStruct\x10\x04*m\n\x0cVariableType\x12\n\n\x06kInput\x10\x00\x12\x12\n\x0ekDiscreteInput\x10\x01\x12\r\n\tkResidual\x10\x02\x12\x0b\n\x07kOutput\x10\x03\x12\x13\n\x0fkDiscreteOutput\x10\x04\x12\x0c\n\x08kPartial\x10\x05B\x11\n\x0forg.philote.mdob\x06proto3')
 _globals = globals()
 _builder.BuildMessageAndEnumDescriptors(DESCRIPTOR, _globals)
 _builder.BuildTopDescriptorsAndMessages(DESCRIPTOR, 'data_pb2', _globals)
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
     _globals['DESCRIPTOR']._loaded_options = None
     _globals['DESCRIPTOR']._serialized_options = b'\n\x0forg.philote.mdo'
     _globals['_DATATYPE']._serialized_start = 856
-    _globals['_DATATYPE']._serialized_end = 913
-    _globals['_VARIABLETYPE']._serialized_start = 915
-    _globals['_VARIABLETYPE']._serialized_end = 1024
+    _globals['_DATATYPE']._serialized_end = 926
+    _globals['_VARIABLETYPE']._serialized_start = 928
+    _globals['_VARIABLETYPE']._serialized_end = 1037
     _globals['_DISCIPLINEPROPERTIES']._serialized_start = 53
     _globals['_DISCIPLINEPROPERTIES']._serialized_end = 178
     _globals['_STREAMOPTIONS']._serialized_start = 180
diff --git a/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.pyi b/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.pyi
index a699396..13c800f 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.pyi
+++ b/philote_mdo/generated/data_pb2.pyi
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ class DataType(int, metaclass=_enum_type_wrapper.EnumTypeWrapper):
     kInt: _ClassVar[DataType]
     kDouble: _ClassVar[DataType]
     kString: _ClassVar[DataType]
+    kStruct: _ClassVar[DataType]
 
 class VariableType(int, metaclass=_enum_type_wrapper.EnumTypeWrapper):
     __slots__ = ()
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@ kBool: DataType
 kInt: DataType
 kDouble: DataType
 kString: DataType
+kStruct: DataType
 kInput: VariableType
 kDiscreteInput: VariableType
 kResidual: VariableType
diff --git a/philote_mdo/openmdao/utils.py b/philote_mdo/openmdao/utils.py
index c11f881..3b95870 100644
--- a/philote_mdo/openmdao/utils.py
+++ b/philote_mdo/openmdao/utils.py
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ def declare_options(opt_list, options):
             opt_type = float
         elif type_str == "str":
             opt_type = str
+        elif type_str == "dict":
+            opt_type = dict
 
         options.declare(name, types=opt_type)
 
diff --git a/proto b/proto
index a5a21b8..3fd6a74 160000
--- a/proto
+++ b/proto
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit a5a21b8c151c34f9f7b6f8fb717da76bb7e18011
+Subproject commit 3fd6a747bdba8550ab0c96c7967ee945002b5321
diff --git a/tests/test_discipline_client.py b/tests/test_discipline_client.py
index 1e24d9b..d7be559 100644
--- a/tests/test_discipline_client.py
+++ b/tests/test_discipline_client.py
@@ -130,6 +130,51 @@ def test_get_available_options(self, mock_discipline_stub):
         }
         self.assertEqual(instance.options_list, expected_options_list)
 
+    @patch("philote_mdo.generated.disciplines_pb2_grpc.DisciplineServiceStub")
+    def test_get_available_options_with_dict_type(self, mock_discipline_stub):
+        """
+        Tests that get_available_options correctly maps kStruct to 'dict'.
+        """
+        mock_channel = Mock()
+        mock_stub = mock_discipline_stub.return_value
+
+        instance = DisciplineClient(channel=mock_channel)
+
+        mock_options = MagicMock()
+        mock_options.options = ["config", "flag"]
+        mock_options.type = [data.kStruct, data.kBool]
+        instance._disc_stub.GetAvailableOptions.return_value = mock_options
+
+        instance.get_available_options()
+
+        expected_options_list = {
+            "config": "dict",
+            "flag": "bool",
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(instance.options_list, expected_options_list)
+
+    def test_send_options_with_nested_dict(self):
+        """
+        Tests that send_options correctly serializes nested dict values via Struct.
+        """
+        mock_stub = Mock()
+        mock_channel = Mock()
+        mock_channel.stub.return_value = mock_stub
+
+        client = DisciplineClient(channel=mock_channel)
+        client._disc_stub = mock_stub
+
+        options = {
+            "config": {"solver": "newton", "tol": 1e-6},
+            "name": "test",
+        }
+
+        client.send_options(options)
+
+        expected_proto_options = data.DisciplineOptions()
+        expected_proto_options.options.update(options)
+        mock_stub.SetOptions.assert_called_once_with(expected_proto_options)
+
     def test_send_options(self):
         # mock gRPC stub and channel
         mock_stub = Mock()
diff --git a/tests/test_discipline_server.py b/tests/test_discipline_server.py
index f9b2550..4fa1329 100644
--- a/tests/test_discipline_server.py
+++ b/tests/test_discipline_server.py
@@ -362,6 +362,56 @@ def test_process_inputs(self):
         self.assertEqual(flat_inputs["x"].tolist(), [1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 0.0])
         self.assertEqual(flat_outputs["f"].tolist(), [0.1, 0.2, 0.0])
 
+    def test_get_available_options_with_dict_type(self):
+        """
+        Tests that GetAvailableOptions correctly maps dict options to kStruct.
+        """
+        server = DisciplineServer()
+
+        request_mock = Mock()
+        context_mock = None
+
+        server._discipline = Discipline()
+        server._discipline.options_list = {
+            "config": "dict",
+            "flag": "bool",
+        }
+
+        results = server.GetAvailableOptions(request_mock, context_mock)
+
+        expected_options = ["config", "flag"]
+        expected_types = [data.kStruct, data.kBool]
+
+        self.assertEqual(results.options, expected_options)
+        self.assertEqual(results.type, expected_types)
+
+    def test_set_options_with_nested_dict(self):
+        """
+        Tests that SetOptions correctly passes nested dict values through.
+        """
+        server = DisciplineServer()
+
+        request_mock = Mock()
+        context_mock = Mock()
+
+        # set nested dict options in the request
+        request_mock.options = {
+            "config": {"solver": "newton", "tol": 1e-6, "nested": {"a": 1}},
+            "name": "test",
+        }
+
+        discipline_mock = Mock()
+        server._discipline = discipline_mock
+
+        server.SetOptions(request_mock, context_mock)
+
+        server._discipline.set_options.assert_called_once_with(
+            {
+                "config": {"solver": "newton", "tol": 1e-6, "nested": {"a": 1}},
+                "name": "test",
+            }
+        )
+
     def test_get_available_options_invalid_type_raises_error(self):
         """
         Tests that GetAvailableOptions raises ValueError for invalid option types.
diff --git a/tests/test_edge_cases.py b/tests/test_edge_cases.py
index 72b5e40..0afc37b 100644
--- a/tests/test_edge_cases.py
+++ b/tests/test_edge_cases.py
@@ -73,6 +73,26 @@ def test_get_available_options_with_str_type(self):
         # The method should complete without error and return options
         self.assertIsNotNone(result)
 
+    def test_get_available_options_with_dict_type(self):
+        """
+        Test GetAvailableOptions with dict option type (covers kStruct mapping).
+        """
+        server = DisciplineServer()
+        discipline = Mock()
+
+        discipline.options_list = {"config": "dict"}
+
+        server.attach_discipline(discipline)
+
+        request = Mock()
+        context = Mock()
+
+        result = server.GetAvailableOptions(request, context)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result)
+        self.assertEqual(list(result.options), ["config"])
+        self.assertEqual(list(result.type), [data.kStruct])
+
     def test_get_available_options_with_invalid_type(self):
         """
         Test GetAvailableOptions with invalid option type (covers lines 100-103).