She is doing an 'independent study' in Art History this semester. [=a course of study done by a student without an instructor or with help from an instructor but not as part of an organized class]
an 'independent' investigator [=a person who is not directly involved in a situation or dispute and who is free to investigate problems and make judgments about what should be done]
This car has four-wheel 'independent suspension'. [=each of the four wheels has its own set of supports for the body of the car]