I am very tired of the assumption that those who studied science or engineering in college are automatons that don’t learn how to think. I can assure you that many liberal arts students are not concerned with citizenship and democracy. Engineers and scientists can be just as good citizens as English or poli sci majors. Just because I spent more time in a laboratory than a classroom doesn’t mean I am uninterested or uniformed about the world or about arts and literature.
It could certainly be argued that it is the lack of reliance on science that is causing some to be ill equipped as citizens. Pretending a scientific fact is not valid simply because it doesn’t fit your political view seems like more of a problem with democratization these days than lack of liberal arts study. Lack of basic food, water, health care, shelter and political stability though out the world are problems that scientists and engineers can certainly help to solve.
Not to mention the obvious fact that studying science or engineering is often a more reliable path out of poverty or working class than studying art history. That has always been the case. As UCB points out, college is no longer for the elite who can afford to study whatever interests them.