We often hear about failing math and science literacy, but not nearly as often about historical illiteracy. History, IMO, is equally important to the STEM program. I would rather have political leaders who are well read about, say, how wars have started, than those that can do advanced calculus. In fact, I think a lot of higher education should focus on broadening the curriculum, rather than restricting it, which has been the trend in the last decades. Although a college has to have revenues that meet or exceed costs, we can't think of a degree as a product to be bought in the strict sense of the word. IMO, the really important academic subjects are math, history, philosophy and language. There is a business school around here that proudly advertises "no fluff courses". It makes my skin crawl.