Advanced Option Studios (AOS)

Bagsværd Church, Jørn Utzon.

The Advanced Option Studios (AOS) (formerly the Advanced Synthesis Option Studios (ASOS)) are vertically-integrated advanced studios that encourage interdisciplinary collaboration from the arts and technology, research and design, large scale urban and ecological thinking, to detailed investigations of materials, fabrication strategies, and form strategies — the heart of the CMU and Carnegie Mellon Architecture experience.

The AOS are a set of advanced studios offered every semester on various topics chosen by studio faculty based on their research and design interests. Topics vary from year to year and are constantly evolving to keep pace with the rapidly changing profession and global scene. An AOS booklet is created each semester (see below). Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to plan ahead to create a course of study suited to their particular interests and ambitions. Since not every studio is available every semester, strategic planning is necessary. Students may focus or specialize on particular themes such as robotics, urbanism or sustainable systems for several semesters, or they may connect different studios to satisfy more diverse interests. Some studios, including the theater design and global studios, include travel to visit a site.

The AOS encourage the integration and exchange of ideas between students from various programs at the highest levels. The studios include master's students from the M.Arch, MAAD, MSAECM, MSSD and MUD programs, and students from departments outside of Architecture, including Drama and Emerging Media, as well as upper level B.Arch students.