diff --git a/.chronus/changes/allow-clientoption-model-value-2026-08-20-12-50-00.md b/.chronus/changes/allow-clientoption-model-value-2026-08-20-12-50-00.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7789194018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chronus/changes/allow-clientoption-model-value-2026-08-20-12-50-00.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+changeKind: feature
+packages:
+  - "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core"
+---
+
+`@clientOption`'s `value` can now reference a TypeSpec model, in addition to `string`, `boolean`, and `number` literal values. The referenced model (including customizations such as `@alternateType`) is preserved and resolved so scoped emitters can access it via `getClientOptions`.
diff --git a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/README.md b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/README.md
index c1d7a73fa0..875e9ab4cf 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/README.md
+++ b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/README.md
@@ -877,7 +877,7 @@ See supported client options for each language emitter here https://azure.github
 warning if no scope is provided (since options are typically language-specific).
 
 ```typespec
-@Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.clientOption(name: valueof string, value: valueof unknown, scope?: valueof string)
+@Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.clientOption(name: valueof string, value: unknown | valueof unknown, scope?: valueof string)
 ```
 
 ##### Target
@@ -887,11 +887,11 @@ The type you want to apply the option to.
 
 ##### Parameters
 
-| Name  | Type              | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
-| ----- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| name  | `valueof string`  | The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
-| value | `valueof unknown` | The value of the option. Can be any type; emitters will cast as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
-| scope | `valueof string`  | Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.<br /><br />**Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).<br /><br />**Valid patterns:**<br />- Single language: `"python"`<br />- Multiple languages (comma-separated): `"python, java"`<br />- Negation to exclude languages: `"!csharp"` or `"!(java, python)"` |
+| Name  | Type                           | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
+| ----- | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| name  | `valueof string`               | The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
+| value | `unknown` \| `valueof unknown` | The value of the option. Can be a literal value (string, boolean, number, etc.) or a<br />reference to a TypeSpec model, in which case the referenced model (including its own decorators,<br />such as `@alternateType`) is preserved so the scoped emitter can resolve it. Emitters will cast as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
+| scope | `valueof string`               | Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.<br /><br />**Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).<br /><br />**Valid patterns:**<br />- Single language: `"python"`<br />- Multiple languages (comma-separated): `"python, java"`<br />- Negation to exclude languages: `"!csharp"` or `"!(java, python)"` |
 
 ##### Examples
 
@@ -905,6 +905,14 @@ model MyModel {
 }
 ```
 
+###### Apply an experimental option that references a model
+
+```typespec
+#suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option" "preview feature for csharp"
+@clientOption("composes", OpenAICreateResponseOptions, "csharp")
+model FoundryCreateResponseOptions {}
+```
+
 #### `@convenientAPI`
 
 Whether you want to generate an operation as a convenient method.
diff --git a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/generated-defs/Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.ts b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/generated-defs/Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.ts
index 32121f0e50..04f7d00144 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/generated-defs/Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.ts
+++ b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/generated-defs/Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.ts
@@ -1089,7 +1089,9 @@ export type ClientDocDecorator = (
  *
  * @param target The type you want to apply the option to.
  * @param name The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").
- * @param value The value of the option. Can be any type; emitters will cast as needed.
+ * @param value The value of the option. Can be a literal value (string, boolean, number, etc.) or a
+ * reference to a TypeSpec model, in which case the referenced model (including its own decorators,
+ * such as `@alternateType`) is preserved so the scoped emitter can resolve it. Emitters will cast as needed.
  * @param scope Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.
  *
  * **Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).
@@ -1106,12 +1108,18 @@ export type ClientDocDecorator = (
  *   prop: string;
  * }
  * ```
+ * @example Apply an experimental option that references a model
+ * ```typespec
+ * #suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option" "preview feature for csharp"
+ * @clientOption("composes", OpenAICreateResponseOptions, "csharp")
+ * model FoundryCreateResponseOptions {}
+ * ```
  */
 export type ClientOptionDecorator = (
   context: DecoratorContext,
   target: Type,
   name: string,
-  value: unknown,
+  value: Type | unknown,
   scope?: string,
 ) => DecoratorValidatorCallbacks | void;
 
diff --git a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/lib/decorators.tsp b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/lib/decorators.tsp
index 95188ae096..13acf1e668 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/lib/decorators.tsp
+++ b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/lib/decorators.tsp
@@ -1178,7 +1178,9 @@ extern dec clientDoc(
  *
  * @param target The type you want to apply the option to.
  * @param name The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").
- * @param value The value of the option. Can be any type; emitters will cast as needed.
+ * @param value The value of the option. Can be a literal value (string, boolean, number, etc.) or a
+ * reference to a TypeSpec model, in which case the referenced model (including its own decorators,
+ * such as `@alternateType`) is preserved so the scoped emitter can resolve it. Emitters will cast as needed.
  * @param scope Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.
  *
  * **Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).
@@ -1196,10 +1198,17 @@ extern dec clientDoc(
  *   prop: string;
  * }
  * ```
+ *
+ * @example Apply an experimental option that references a model
+ * ```typespec
+ * #suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option" "preview feature for csharp"
+ * @clientOption("composes", OpenAICreateResponseOptions, "csharp")
+ * model FoundryCreateResponseOptions {}
+ * ```
  */
 extern dec clientOption(
   target: unknown,
   name: valueof string,
-  value: valueof unknown,
+  value: unknown | (valueof unknown),
   scope?: valueof string
 );
diff --git a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/src/internal-utils.ts b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/src/internal-utils.ts
index 064c49201a..15e640fd66 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/src/internal-utils.ts
+++ b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/src/internal-utils.ts
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ function getDecoratorArgValue(
 ): [any, readonly Diagnostic[]] {
   const diagnostics = createDiagnosticCollector();
   if (typeof arg === "object" && arg !== null && "kind" in arg) {
-    if (arg.kind === "EnumMember") {
+    if (arg.kind === "EnumMember" || arg.kind === "Model") {
       return diagnostics.wrap(diagnostics.pipe(getClientTypeWithDiagnostics(context, arg as any)));
     }
     if (
diff --git a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/test/decorators/client-option.test.ts b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/test/decorators/client-option.test.ts
index c2593fee64..efc0e39c64 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/test/decorators/client-option.test.ts
+++ b/packages/typespec-client-generator-core/test/decorators/client-option.test.ts
@@ -193,6 +193,63 @@ describe("@clientOption with getClientOptions getter", () => {
     strictEqual(typeof numberValue, "number");
   });
 
+  it("should support a model reference as the value", async () => {
+    const { program } = await SimpleTesterWithService.compile(`
+      model ComposedOptions {
+        a: string;
+      }
+
+      #suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option"
+      @clientOption("composes", ComposedOptions, "csharp")
+      @test
+      model Test {
+        id: string;
+      }
+
+      op getTest(): Test;
+    `);
+
+    const context = await createSdkContextForTester(program, {
+      emitterName: "@azure-tools/typespec-csharp",
+    });
+
+    const sdkModel = context.sdkPackage.models.find((m) => m.name === "Test");
+    ok(sdkModel, "SDK model should exist");
+
+    const value = getClientOptions(sdkModel, "composes") as { kind?: string; name?: string };
+    strictEqual(value?.kind, "model");
+    strictEqual(value?.name, "ComposedOptions");
+  });
+
+  it("should preserve customizations, such as @alternateType, on a model reference value", async () => {
+    const { program } = await SimpleTesterWithService.compile(`
+      @alternateType(string, "csharp")
+      model AlternateOptions {
+        a: string;
+      }
+
+      #suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option"
+      @clientOption("composes", AlternateOptions, "csharp")
+      @test
+      model Test {
+        id: string;
+      }
+
+      op getTest(): Test;
+    `);
+
+    const context = await createSdkContextForTester(program, {
+      emitterName: "@azure-tools/typespec-csharp",
+    });
+
+    const sdkModel = context.sdkPackage.models.find((m) => m.name === "Test");
+    ok(sdkModel, "SDK model should exist");
+
+    const value = getClientOptions(sdkModel, "composes") as { kind?: string };
+    strictEqual(value?.kind, "string");
+    // @alternateType(string) replaces the referenced model with the builtin `string` type
+  });
+
   it("should return client option value for operation", async () => {
     const { program } = await SimpleTesterWithService.compile(`
       #suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option"
diff --git a/packages/typespec-go/src/codegen/core/models.ts b/packages/typespec-go/src/codegen/core/models.ts
index 20f26b1e29..f9f092c1c4 100644
--- a/packages/typespec-go/src/codegen/core/models.ts
+++ b/packages/typespec-go/src/codegen/core/models.ts
@@ -136,25 +136,17 @@ export function generateModels(
   if (needsJSONPopulateAsString) {
     serdeImports.add("reflect");
     serdeImports.add("github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-go/sdk/azcore");
-    serdeTextBody +=
-      "func populateAsString(m map[string]any, k string, v any, fn func() string) {\n";
-    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(
-      indent,
-      {
-        condition: "v == nil",
-        body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return\n`,
-      },
-      [
-        {
-          condition: "azcore.IsNullValue(v)",
-          body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = nil\n`,
-        },
-        {
-          condition: "!reflect.ValueOf(v).IsNil()",
-          body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = fn()\n`,
-        },
-      ],
-    )}\n`;
+    serdeTextBody += "func populateAsString(m map[string]any, k string, v any, fn func() string) {\n";
+    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
+      condition: "v == nil",
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return\n`,
+    }, [{
+      condition: "azcore.IsNullValue(v)",
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = nil\n`,
+    }, {
+      condition: "!reflect.ValueOf(v).IsNil()",
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = fn()\n`,
+    }])}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += "}\n\n";
   }
   if (needsJSONPopulateTime) {
@@ -219,8 +211,7 @@ export function generateModels(
   }
   if (needsJSONUnpopulateFromString) {
     serdeImports.add("fmt");
-    serdeTextBody +=
-      "func unpopulateFromString(data json.RawMessage, fn string, f func(s string) error) error {\n";
+    serdeTextBody += "func unpopulateFromString(data json.RawMessage, fn string, f func(s string) error) error {\n";
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
       condition: `data == nil || string(data) == "null"`,
       body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return nil\n`,
@@ -233,16 +224,14 @@ export function generateModels(
     })}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
       condition: "err != nil",
-      body: (indent) =>
-        `${indent.get()}return fmt.Errorf("struct field %s: %s", fn, err.Error())\n`,
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return fmt.Errorf("struct field %s: %s", fn, err.Error())\n`,
     })}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}return nil\n`;
     serdeTextBody += "}\n\n";
   }
   if (needsJSONUnpopulateStringArray) {
     serdeImports.add("strings");
-    serdeTextBody +=
-      "func unpopulateStringArray[T ~string](data json.RawMessage, fn string, v *[]T, d string) error {\n";
+    serdeTextBody += "func unpopulateStringArray[T ~string](data json.RawMessage, fn string, v *[]T, d string) error {\n";
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
       condition: `data == nil || string(data) == "null"`,
       body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return nil\n`,
@@ -250,8 +239,7 @@ export function generateModels(
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}var encodedValue string\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
       condition: "err := json.Unmarshal(data, &encodedValue); err != nil",
-      body: (indent) =>
-        `${indent.get()}return fmt.Errorf("struct field %s: %s", fn, err.Error())\n`,
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}return fmt.Errorf("struct field %s: %s", fn, err.Error())\n`,
     })}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
       condition: `encodedValue == ""`,
@@ -263,13 +251,9 @@ export function generateModels(
     })}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}values := strings.Split(encodedValue, d)\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}result := make([]T, len(values))\n`;
-    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildForBlock(
-      indent,
-      "i := range values",
-      (indent) => {
-        return `${indent.get()}result[i] = T(values[i])\n`;
-      },
-    )}`;
+    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildForBlock(indent, "i := range values", (indent) => {
+      return `${indent.get()}result[i] = T(values[i])\n`;
+    })}`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}*v = result\n`;
     serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}return nil\n`;
     serdeTextBody += "}\n\n";
@@ -305,32 +289,23 @@ export function generateModels(
   if (needsJSONPopulateStringArray) {
     serdeImports.add("github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-go/sdk/azcore");
     serdeImports.add("strings");
-    serdeTextBody +=
-      "func populateStringArray[T ~string](m map[string]any, k string, v []T, d string) {";
-    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(
-      indent,
+    serdeTextBody += "func populateStringArray[T ~string](m map[string]any, k string, v []T, d string) {";
+    serdeTextBody += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildIfBlock(indent, {
+      condition: "azcore.IsNullValue(v)",
+      body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = nil\n`,
+    }, [
       {
-        condition: "azcore.IsNullValue(v)",
-        body: (indent) => `${indent.get()}m[k] = nil\n`,
-      },
-      [
-        {
-          condition: "v != nil",
-          body: (indent) => {
-            let controlBlock = `${indent.get()}encodedValue := make([]string, len(v))\n`;
-            controlBlock += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildForBlock(
-              indent,
-              "i := range v",
-              (indent) => {
-                return `${indent.get()}encodedValue[i] = string(v[i])\n`;
-              },
-            )}`;
-            controlBlock += `${indent.get()}m[k] = strings.Join(encodedValue, d)\n`;
-            return controlBlock;
-          },
+        condition: "v != nil",
+        body: (indent) => {
+          let controlBlock = `${indent.get()}encodedValue := make([]string, len(v))\n`;
+          controlBlock += `${indent.get()}${helpers.buildForBlock(indent, "i := range v", (indent) => {
+            return `${indent.get()}encodedValue[i] = string(v[i])\n`;
+          })}`;
+          controlBlock += `${indent.get()}m[k] = strings.Join(encodedValue, d)\n`;
+          return controlBlock;
         },
-      ],
-    )}\n`;
+      }
+    ])}\n`;
     serdeTextBody += "}\n\n";
   }
   if (needsJSONUnpopulateTime || needsJSONPopulateTime) {
diff --git a/website/src/content/docs/docs/libraries/typespec-client-generator-core/reference/decorators.md b/website/src/content/docs/docs/libraries/typespec-client-generator-core/reference/decorators.md
index e46ec1f134..245d4a60b2 100644
--- a/website/src/content/docs/docs/libraries/typespec-client-generator-core/reference/decorators.md
+++ b/website/src/content/docs/docs/libraries/typespec-client-generator-core/reference/decorators.md
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@ See supported client options for each language emitter here https://azure.github
 warning if no scope is provided (since options are typically language-specific).
 
 ```typespec
-@Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.clientOption(name: valueof string, value: valueof unknown, scope?: valueof string)
+@Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.clientOption(name: valueof string, value: unknown | valueof unknown, scope?: valueof string)
 ```
 
 #### Target
@@ -743,11 +743,11 @@ The type you want to apply the option to.
 
 #### Parameters
 
-| Name  | Type              | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
-| ----- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
-| name  | `valueof string`  | The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
-| value | `valueof unknown` | The value of the option. Can be any type; emitters will cast as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
-| scope | `valueof string`  | Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.<br /><br />**Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).<br /><br />**Valid patterns:**<br />- Single language: `"python"`<br />- Multiple languages (comma-separated): `"python, java"`<br />- Negation to exclude languages: `"!csharp"` or `"!(java, python)"` |
+| Name  | Type                           | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
+| ----- | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
+| name  | `valueof string`               | The name of the option (e.g., "enableFeatureFoo").                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
+| value | `unknown` \| `valueof unknown` | The value of the option. Can be a literal value (string, boolean, number, etc.) or a<br />reference to a TypeSpec model, in which case the referenced model (including its own decorators,<br />such as `@alternateType`) is preserved so the scoped emitter can resolve it. Emitters will cast as needed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
+| scope | `valueof string`               | Specifies the target language emitters to which the decorator applies. Every use must provide an explicit scope; omitting it produces an additional warning.<br /><br />**Supported language identifiers:** `csharp`, `python`, `java`, `javascript`, `go`, and other language emitter names (derived from the emitter package name, e.g., `@azure-tools/typespec-csharp` → `csharp`).<br /><br />**Valid patterns:**<br />- Single language: `"python"`<br />- Multiple languages (comma-separated): `"python, java"`<br />- Negation to exclude languages: `"!csharp"` or `"!(java, python)"` |
 
 #### Examples
 
@@ -761,6 +761,14 @@ model MyModel {
 }
 ```
 
+##### Apply an experimental option that references a model
+
+```typespec
+#suppress "@azure-tools/typespec-client-generator-core/client-option" "preview feature for csharp"
+@clientOption("composes", OpenAICreateResponseOptions, "csharp")
+model FoundryCreateResponseOptions {}
+```
+
 ### `@convenientAPI` {#@Azure.ClientGenerator.Core.convenientAPI}
 
 Whether you want to generate an operation as a convenient method.