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The University of Missouri Board of Curators established the CENTER FOR METROPOLITIAN STUDIES in 1965 to provide "teaching, research, and service to the metropolitan community of St. Louis." The center conducted public policy studies for many local, state, and federal agencies on issues including public housing and governmental structure.

University of Missouri-St. Louis Continuing Education/ Extension developed PUBLIC POLICY EXTENSION/SURVEY AND APPLIED RESEARCH in the early 1970's to assist local governments and engage in training and educational programs. The technical specialties of Public Policy Extension were public opinion research (telephone surveys, focus groups) and programs evaluation.

THE JAMES BUSH, SR. CENTER was established in 1988 to enhance the ability of St. Louis and the State of Missouri to promote and manage social change constructively through policy research and community service activities. The Bush Center's Dispute Resolution Program provided individuals, organizations, and local governments with information and services to promote cooperative resolutions to conflict situations. Direct services included consulting, facilitation, community problem solving, strategic planning, mediation, and grievance hearings. The Bush Center also coordinated the Margaret Bush Wilson Scholarships and organized lecture series, particularly on African history.

Also in 1988, the Institute for Policy Leadership was created to provide leadership training for public officials along the model of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. The Institute developed the Regional Housing Alliance, a public/private partnership supported by the City of St. Louis and St, Louis County to increase the number of affordable housing units for low-and moderate income families in the St. Louis region.

In September 1989, a consolidation of the administration and staffing if the Center for Metropolitan Studies, the James T. Bush, Sr. Center and Public Policy Extension/Survey and Applied Research created the University of Missouri--St. Louis Public Policy Research Centers. The Institute for Policy Leadership became a part of the Centers in 1991. Because of the history and constituencies of the original units, their identities were maintained with in the new Public Policy Research Centers.

In the early months of the Year 2000, the Centers conducted a strategic planning process that included broad-based representation from UM-St. Louis faculty and St. Louis regional public agencies. In Spring 2000, a new relationship was forged and the Centers came to be called the Public Policy Research Center.