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The young Morris Cohen devoured the few available books in his modest surroundings. He earned a gold medal from his grade school and passed the entrance examination for the College of the City of New York in 1895. While attending City College, Cohen pursed the scientific course of study that included courses in modern languages, literature, history, philosophy, mathematics and chemistry. He graduated in 1900 from City College with a Bachelor of Science and an induction into the Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

These early studies in philosophy, pedagogy, and aesthetics were to serve him well when Morris Cohen began to pursue graduate studies at Columbia University and then earned his doctorate in philosophy from Harvard University in 1906. While studying at Columbia he began to give service to his alma mater by teaching mathematics beginning in 1902 as a Tutor. In 1906 upon completion of his doctorate from Harvard University, an unusual accomplishment for someone who came from Eastern Europe, he was promoted to Instructor. During the summer breaks over these years he visited the peripatetic Scottish scholar, Thomas Davidson, who gave Cohen's life purpose and inspiration. He was encouraged, ceased brooding and broadened himself in Davidson's "culture sciences"-classics, philosophy, history and great world literature.

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