What course sound more interesting for first year university?

Since you like things to do with theory and expressing your ideas I would definitely go for Politics, Corruption, and Violence. Themes in World History will only bore you since most things seem set in stone and won't allow you to express your opinion. I would save the Children's Lit for next year just in case you have extremely hard cles and you could have that one to balance it out. As for the mixed reviews on the teacher, most good teachers get mixed reviews. Some people's personalities just clash with him. If you have a good friend who took him, ask him/her.